Highlights: Four years ago today, on March 17, 2020, France was in lockdown due to the Covid-19 pandemic. That year, the coronavirus was the third leading cause of death in France after cardiovascular diseases and cancers. Just four years after the first total confinement, what is the situation with this disease which has caused nearly 170,000 deaths in the country? An update on the health side and a look back at the economic consequences of this crisis, writes Christian Hartmann.

Four years ago today, on March 17, 2020, France was in lockdown due to the Covid-19 pandemic. That year, the coronavirus was the third leading cause of death in France after…

France: four years after confinement, what health and economic consequences of Covid-19?

Four years ago today, on March 17, 2020, France was in lockdown due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

That year, the coronavirus was the third leading cause of death in France after cardiovascular diseases and cancers.

Just four years after the first total confinement, what is the situation with this disease which has caused nearly 170,000 deaths in the country?

An update on the health side and a look back at the economic consequences of this crisis.

A woman walks in front of the Folies Bergères theater in Paris, then closed during confinement, on January 7, 2021. © REUTERS - CHRISTIAN HARTMANN

By: RFI Follow

A little over four years after the start of the pandemic, Covid-19 cases continue to decline year over year.

This winter,

the coronavirus

even ranks second among diseases after the flu, itself in decline in the country.

According to Santé Publique France, Covid-19, which records several outbreaks per year, is currently at the bottom of the wave, and the disease has become an opportunistic condition.

However, the authorities point out that respect by all for barrier gestures remains essential in public places and in the presence of vulnerable people.

Wearing a mask if you have symptoms, washing your hands and regularly ventilating closed spaces is still required.

The circulation of the virus in France is decreasing.

It is now considered moderate.

However, the vaccine is recommended every six months for people aged over 65 and staff at risk such as caregivers.

As for those over 80 and immunocompromised people,

the Covid-19 vaccine

is strongly recommended.

A new vaccination campaign is planned from April 15.

Economic stigma

If Covid has lost ground from a health point of view, the scars of the pandemic are still being felt from an economic point of view.

At the start of the pandemic, in 2020, and during successive lockdowns, the economy was supported by the government, which injected money.

It was Emmanuel Macron’s

famous

“

whatever it takes
” .

Since the coronavirus pandemic, France has returned to growth: +1.6% between 2019 and 2023. This level is acceptable, but it is far from that of other countries in the euro zone, which experienced growth of 3 .3% on average.

By comparison, that of the United States increased by 8% over the same period.

A mixed performance for France, whose consumption remained relatively low compared to its neighbors.

France has also lost export market share, explains Dorian Roucher, head of the economic department of the National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies (Insee), interviewed by the newspaper

Les Echos

Indicators which are worrying, especially since the “

whatever it takes

” policy, which certainly kept the French economy afloat during the pandemic, has increased public debt.

It climbed to more than 110% of gross domestic product (GDP) last year, when that of the euro zone is just over 82% of GDP on average.

France: four years after confinement, what health and economic consequences of Covid-19?

France: four years after confinement, what health and economic consequences of Covid-19?

Economic stigma

You may like

Trends 24h

Latest