Paris (AFP)
Reopening of schools with a "very strict protocol" and massive tests, end of daytime travel limits on May 3, gradual reopening of shops and places of culture in mid-May: Jean Castex unveiled on Thursday the first steps in the lifting of restrictions, judging that the peak of the 3rd wave of Covid-19 had passed.
"The peak of the third wave therefore seems to be behind us" but "for all that, we must remain vigilant," said the Prime Minister at a press conference.
This re-entry will be done with a "very strict protocol" and a "massive reinforcement of tests", since 400,000 saliva tests will be offered each week in food schools upon resumption, "with the prospect of reaching 750,000 tests by mid-year. -May, "he explained.
The "great novelty" will be the deployment of self-tests in high schools: 64 million have been ordered for national education staff and then high school students, said Mr. Castex.
Then, from May 3, travel constraints within the 10 km limit will be "lifted" during the day.
Shops, cultural activities, sports and terraces could reopen "around mid-May" if the health situation allows.
Because if "we all aspire to it", this reopening "will be accompanied by special conditions, if necessary territorialized", warned Mr. Castex.
The main trade federations and some 150 owners, franchisees and affiliates of retail networks published on Thursday a "plea for an imperative reopening of all shops no later than May 10", a month "capital in terms of activity" for the 150,000 stores closed since April 3.
- Very high plateau -
However, many scientists warn about the fragility of the recession.
"We are on a very high plateau with a heavy load on the hospital which is important", recalled Wednesday Frédéric Valletoux, president of the Hospital Federation of France (FHF) and mayor Agir de Fontainebleau.
The number of patients in intensive care was 5,981 Thursday against 5,959 the day before, a still high level, as were those of hospitalized patients (30,634 against 30,954 Wednesday), according to data from Public Health France.
The health agency also indicated that 285 Covid patients have died in the past 24 hours, for a total of more than 102,000 since the start of the epidemic.
Emmanuel Macron said he was very "concerned" by the "long Covid" with which he will have to "live sustainably", 10 to 15% of those who have had the disease with symptoms while suffering, according to the caregivers he has met Thursday at the Foch hospital in Suresnes (Hauts-de-Seine).
"Research is underway and our health system is adapting. We must learn, recognize and take care of patients," he added in a message on Twitter.
The executive put in parallel on the acceleration of the vaccination campaign.
More than 13 million French people had received at least one dose on Wednesday evening, according to Public Health France.
The fears generated by very rare cases of thrombosis after the administration of the AstraZeneca vaccine are weighing on the dynamics, however.
However, "the vaccination of the French population before the summer, which will allow us to have a normal summer, can only be done if all the vaccines are used, including AstraZeneca", underlines Odile Launay.
After the green light from the European Medicines Agency, "the administration of the Janssen vaccine can therefore begin on the national territory", targeting people "over 55 years", according to the Ministry of Health.
MG France, the leading union among general practitioners, called for "new logistics for the distribution" of vaccines and denounced "persistent dysfunctions", in particular the "unpredictable nature" of deliveries and a "lack of consistency in information on vaccines which induces doubt in patients ".
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