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Emergency shutdown almost total in France starting at midnight today to stop the new wave of infections: this is what the president decided Emmanuel macron after the record increase in cases.
In his address to the nation, the president called for a collective effort to combat Covid-19, given that recent measures to contain the virus, such as the curfew in Paris, have been helpful but not sufficient. “We have to admit that, like our (European) neighbors, we are overwhelmed by the second wave, which will surely be tougher and more deadly than the first.”he said.
Without a new national lockdown, Macron explained, the virus would continue to spread at the current rate and all ICU beds in the country would be filled with Covid-19 patients by mid-November, leading to the cancellation of other essential hospitalizations and interventions or that save lives. .
While acknowledging the damage of a second lockdown on the economy, Macron said “nothing is more important than human lives.”
According to ECDC data, France is the first country with an increase in cases in Europe, with 350 infections per 100,000 inhabitants, followed by Spain, the United Kingdom, Italy and Germany.
Lockdown France: Macron Announces New Measures
From Friday, October 30 to December 1, the French will be able to leave the house equipped with self-declaration and only for work, health, to assist a sick family member, to go shopping or for a walk near the house.
Factories, utilities and schools it will remain open, while universities will take online courses.
All non-essential business activities must close; bar and restaurants They will only be able to do take out food and home delivery. Private meetings are prohibited, so you will not be able to visit your friends.
The measures will be re-evaluated every two weeks. The hope, Macron said in an interview, is that families can meet for christmas.
The data of concern
The record for Covid cases in France was reached on Saturday, with 52,010 confirmed cases in 24 hours. The latest data provided by the public health authority on Tuesday reported 33,417 new cases, a slight decrease, but the number of new ICU patients suffering from Covid-19 increased from 148 to 2,918, and there were another 288 deaths attributed to the virus.
The president of the French scientific committee that advises the government, Jean-François Delfraissy, said that the number of new cases of coronavirus could reach 100,000 and that this second wave is much more brutal than the first. Many people still have not understood what awaits us, the wave that is hitting Europe will last several weeks, even one or two months ”..
The Macron government has been and continues to be heavily criticized for the management of the pandemic, to the point that just two weeks ago a report commissioned by the French executive itself highlighted the “Obvious mistakes” committed in both phases of the emergency by the French president.
Errors related to, we read in the report, low number of masks made available to citizens, I few tampons carried out and the lack of cooperation between private and public laboratories.
Meanwhile also the Germany announced a new blockade as of November 2. Merkel’s plan is to shut down non-essential businesses, block travel and limit social contacts. However, schools and kindergartens will remain open.
