"We have set a clear course: minimum restrictions and maximum caution. We are on a crest path, but we can hold," he added after the Council of Ministers, qualifying the fifth wave of the epidemic which affects France of "brutal, intense" and "which will put our health system under very great tension".
"This virus leaves us no respite and does not allow us any relaxation," he insisted, while the number of daily contaminations - around 45,000 on average - "places us at levels close to the peak of the second wave "of autumn 2020, equal to that of the third wave of spring 2021 and already beyond the fourth of last summer.
But, while "the increase in cases over a week remains extremely large", around 40%, "we were last week at a weekly increase of 60%", he observed, concluding that "the slope and therefore a little less steep, a sign that the efforts of the French are beginning to bear fruit ".
"It is however still far too early to claim victory, far too early to rejoice," he warned, noting that "in the hospital, the pressure is increasing and will continue to do so in the next few days and weeks ".
Only "relief": "This hospital pressure remains three times less important than during the second wave is two times less than the third, this is further proof of the effectiveness of our vaccine shield".
"There will be enough vaccine doses" for the 3rd injection, indicates Jean-François Delfraissy Daniel LEAL AFP / Archives
"A year ago, faced with the same number of cases, our country was confined, our hospital services were almost saturated and Christmas was in great danger", added Mr. Attal, noting that "today, the The situation has changed and we are better able to deal with the virus ", in particular thanks to vaccination.
In the morning, Emmanuel Macron was for his part said "optimistic for the future", during an interview on France Bleu Pays d'Auvergne.
Asked about the possibility for the French to spend the end-of-year celebrations in a "serene" way, the President of the Republic replied: "Yes, I believe so deeply, because we have tried each time to have a proportionate response ".
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