The evolution of the epidemiological situation of the new coronavirus in France shows “a manifest deterioration”, declared Friday the French Prime Minister Jean Castex, who however ruled out the idea of ”generalized confinement”.
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The virus “has not decreased in intensity” and “is there for a few more months”, but “we must manage to live with it without being dragged back into a logic of generalized containment”, announced Mr.
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He felt that we should not “put our social, economic and cultural life on hold” despite the increase in contamination.
The Prime Minister was speaking at the end of a Defense Council dedicated to the management of the COVID-19 epidemic which is experiencing a rebound in France and where concern is mounting.
Forty-two French departments are now classified in red, that is to say where the virus is actively circulating, said the Prime Minister during this statement in Matignon, where he was placed in isolation after having rubbed shoulders last Saturday with the director of the Tour de France, positive for COVID-19.
The general picture is worrying, with indicators that keep deteriorating, especially in certain regions such as Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur (south-east). Across France, the number of positive cases and the test positivity rate have been increasing steadily in recent weeks.
To a lesser extent, this is starting to be felt in the number of people transferred to hospital, or even, in the most serious cases, to intensive care.
Nearly 10,000 cases
Nearly 10,000 cases (9,843) of COVID-19 have been recorded in 24 hours, according to the latest data released Thursday evening. A record level since the start of the epidemic and the launch of large-scale tests in the country.
However, an increase in the number of infected people will “automatically” lead to an increase in serious cases, with a few weeks delay, warned the French Minister of Health, Olivier Véran.
Regarding the waiting times for COVID-19 tests, Jean Castex judged that they were “too important” and announced that “slots” would be reserved for priority people.
“On a proposal from the Scientific Council, the duration of isolation will be reduced to seven days, that is to say the period during which there is a real risk of contagion”, he also announced.
“It is essential that everyone strictly respects this period of isolation which will give rise to checks”, added the head of the French government.
Two thousand additional people will also be recruited from the Health Insurance and Regional Health Agencies (ARS) to strengthen the tracing of contacts of infected people.
An essential pillar of the strategy to break the chains of contamination of the coronavirus, the tracing of contacts of infected people has slowed down in recent weeks, which is explained in particular by too low numbers in certain territories, according to Health Insurance, while the number of people to contact is increasing.
Wednesday, Jean-François Delfraissy, the president of the Scientific Council which guides the public authorities in France, had indicated that the government would be “obliged to take a certain number of difficult decisions”, “within eight to ten days maximum”.
These comments were however qualified the next day by French President Emmanuel Macron. “The Scientific Council is in its role, which is technical,” said the Head of State, but it is up to political leaders to “make decisions”.
Still nearly 10,000 new cases of COVID-19 in 24 hours in France
France recorded 9,406 new cases of COVID-19 in 24 hours, while the positivity rate remained stable, according to figures released Friday by Public Health France.
On Thursday the figure was very close with 9,843 cases, which was a record since the start of the epidemic and the launch of large-scale tests.
The positivity rate (proportion of the number of people tested positive compared to the total number of people tested) remains stable at 5.4%.
Since the start of the epidemic in France six months ago, 10 million tests have been carried out in total.
The number of contagion outbreaks under investigation is 715, including 92 in nursing homes (retirement homes), or 106 more in 24 hours.
Forty people have died in hospital over the past 24 hours, bringing the total to 30,893, including hospitals and social and medico-social establishments, including nursing homes.
Faced with a “manifest deterioration” of the situation, Prime Minister Jean Castex announced Friday a reduction in the duration of isolation – so that it is more respected – to 7 days for positive cases and their contacts, a reduction in waiting time for testing. He also asked the prefects of Marseille, Bordeaux and Guadeloupe, where the situation is considered particularly worrying, to present him with new measures by Monday.