In a speech to the French, President Emmanuel Macron announced on Thursday a national extension of braking measures against the coronavirus for four weeks.

Schools will close for three weeks starting April 12, while new resuscitation beds will open.  

"After a year of pain, effort, pride and heroic acts", Emmanuel Macron "called for the mobilization of everyone" during the month of April in order to fight against the Covid epidemic.

The head of state addressed the French on Thursday to announce new measures to curb the third wave of coronavirus, while the country has more than 5,000 serious cases in intensive care, more than the peak of the second wave.

Europe 1 summarizes the essence of these measures for you. 

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Coronavirus: follow the evolution of the situation Wednesday March 31

National confinement for a month

After recalling the course held by the government for a year, the president indicated that the country "has entered a speed race", between vaccination and the spread of the British variant.

If the measures taken in the 19 departments have had an effect, it is not enough, explained the Head of State.

"We must therefore set a new framework", explained Emmanuel Macron, which requires "an additional effort".

An effort that involves the extension of confinement "to the entire metropolitan territory".

"No region is spared, everywhere the virus is increasing", added the Head of State.

A turn of the screw which comes into force from Saturday evening and for four weeks.

The 7 p.m. curfew remains in effect. 

A certificate of travel from 10km from home

As is currently the case for 19 departments, the travel certificate will only be necessary from 10 kilometers from home during the day.

"We are choosing trust, responsibility and, if I may say so, breathing", explained the head of state.

In addition, travel between regions will be authorized during the Easter weekend. 

Closure for three weeks of nurseries, schools, colleges and high schools

"Next week, classes for schools, colleges and high schools will be at home, except, as in spring 2020 for the children of caregivers and some other professions who will be welcomed," said the president.

"The following two weeks, that is from April 12, the whole of France, whatever the zone [A, B, or C, editor's note], will be placed on spring break. The start of the school year will therefore take place for all on April 26 : physically for nursery and primary, remotely for middle and high schools. On May 3, middle and high school students will be able to physically return to their establishment, if necessary with suitable gauges. "

But students will be able to continue to go to university one day a week, detailed Emmanuel Macron.

Extended partial unemployment

As a direct consequence of the closure of schools, "economic and social support will be there," promises the President of the Republic.

"Parents who will have to look after their children and cannot telework will be entitled to partial unemployment. In addition, all the measures currently in force" will be extended as late as possible ", for employees, traders, the self-employed, entrepreneurs and businesses.

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The list of authorized businesses unchanged

The businesses which are currently closed in 19 departments particularly affected by the third wave of the Covid-19 epidemic will also be closed in all the others in metropolitan France, the President of the Republic said on Wednesday.

"Shops will be closed throughout the metropolitan area according to the list already defined in the 19 departments today concerned," said Emmanuel Macron in his televised address.

New beds in intensive care 

Emmanuel Macron also announced "additional reinforcements" in intensive care to cope with the influx of serious patients from Covid-19 and to go "in the coming days" to more than 10,000 beds, against 7,665 currently.

"Here I want to thank the medical students, retirees, the army health service, all the volunteers of the health reserve. All are mobilized, will be mobilized in an increased way to bring in the coming days, our capacity to a little more of 10,000 beds, "he said, referring to the opening of new reception capacities in certain Parisian hospitals, in particular to avoid" too much deprogramming "of surgical operations.

Vaccination extended to everyone over 50 on May 15 

Vaccination against Covid-19 will be extended to all people over the age of 60 on April 16, then to all those over 50 on May 15, announced Emmanuel Macron.

People under the age of 50 will follow in mid-June and "by the end of the summer, all French people over 18 who wish to be able to be vaccinated", declared the Head of State at the meeting. 'a televised address.

Macron admits to having "made mistakes" in handling the crisis

Emmanuel Macron admitted to having "made mistakes" in the management of the health crisis but also to have "learned", a few days after having refused all "mea culpa" for having decided at the end of January not to reconfine.

"At every stage of this epidemic, we could tell ourselves that we could have done better, that we made mistakes. All of this is true," the president said in a televised address to introduce new restrictions intended to stem an epidemic that is getting worse.

"But I do know one thing: we held on, we learned, and we got better every time."

A reopening schedule between mid-May and early summer

"From mid-May, we will resume opening certain places of culture with strict rules," the head of state also said.

"We will authorize under certain conditions the opening of terraces and we will build between mid-May and the beginning of summer, a calendar of gradual reopening for culture, sport, leisure, events, our cafes and restaurants ... "