France "in the process of emerging sustainably" from the health crisis, according to Castex

In an interview with "Parisien", Prime Minister Jean Castex speaks on various subjects including the Covid-19 health crisis, estimating that France is "in the process" of "getting out of it sustainably" and specifying the stages of deconfinement.  

France is "in the process of emerging sustainably" from the health crisis due to Covid-19, Prime Minister Jean Castex said on Monday, in an interview with Le

Parisien

.

"I say it in the clearest way: we are finally in the process of coming out of this health crisis on a lasting basis," said the head of government.

But even if "we reach the goal", this exit "will be done in a progressive, careful and accompanied way", he underlines.

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The lifting of the curfew on June 30 remains "our objective"

For this, "our system is balanced" and provides for "braking measures in case the epidemic situation gets out of hand locally", continues Jean Castex. Asked about the possibility of a "fourth wave" epidemic, he believes that "nothing should be excluded and remain hyper vigilant", and assures that France is in this regard among the most demanding countries in Europe. We also ordered vaccines that would allow a vaccine booster in the fall, if necessary, "he adds.

As for a definitive end to the epidemic, "some scientists tell us that this will be the case within a year or so", adds the Prime Minister, but "we have made progress to protect ourselves from its most severe effects. heavy ".

Regarding the lifting of the curfew on June 30, the head of government indicates that "the history of this epidemic teaches us to be careful, but it is indeed our objective".

A gauge of 50% of restaurant capacity

From May 19, "we will be able to find the terraces, return to the theater, the cinema, the museum ... with rules, of course, but life will begin to resume its course!", He welcomes. "On the terrace, for example, there will be a gauge of 50% of the reception capacity. It will be necessary to be seated, six at the maximum table, without going inside the establishment. At the cinema or at the show, the rule will be 1 seat in 3, with a ceiling of 800 people per room ", specifies the head of government.

Regarding shops, "all will reopen, including large shopping centers, with a gauge of 8 m2 per customer".

The covered markets will also reopen "under the same conditions", those in the open air "with a gauge of 4 m2".

For private gatherings, "we are maintaining the recommendation of six people for the May-June period, and we will re-evaluate it by the summer."

"Fan zones" with a sanitary protocol adapted for the Euro

The Prime Minister is also said to be "optimistic" on the objective of 20 million people vaccinated "at the end of the weekend of the Ascension", even if the "hesitations" around the AstraZeneca vaccine "made us slow down. The "health pass", under parliamentary review, should be reserved "for major events that bring together around more than a thousand people at the same time," he promises. It will not be required "in the workplace, education, in public services, museums, libraries, department stores, markets, vacation spots or places of worship ".

In the sporting chapter, there may be "fan zones" for Euro football, but with "an adapted health protocol. As for the Tour de France," we will not impose the health pass for spectators at the side of the roads , It would also be impossible ". For the lifting of economic support measures, the head of government promises" progressivity "and" adaptability ".

" We will not disconnect the devices suddenly "and" we will make tailor-made to keep take into account the differences in the situation, ”he promises.

LR's "exceptional violence" criticized

Also questioned by

Le Parisien

on the failure of the agreement between the presidential majority and the outgoing president of PACA Renaud Muselier, Jean Castex denounces "the exceptional violence" of the Republicans party. "I saw a political party shoot red balls against" this agreement, "going so far as to say that allying with the RN or with the presidential majority, it would be the same thing. It is simply astonishing", deplores the Prime Minister.

In this interview, Jean Castex finally qualifies as a "political maneuver" of "the extreme right" the new military platform, while expressing his "confidence in the Army". "It is a political platform of the extreme right, let's call a spade a spade", protested the Prime Minister, before criticizing the anonymity of the signatories. "Let them show up and assume if they consider that the essential is at stake," he insisted.