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The French president halted a third shutdown in January. Now it’s coming anyway, with a curfew and schools closed across the country.
The third wave of infections has hit France hard. Hospitals in the Paris area are struggling to increase capacity. 5,072 hospital patients now need intensive care and 44 percent of them are under 65 years of age.
On Wednesday night, President Emmanuel Macron announced that the strict measures that have already been introduced by 19 ministries will be extended to the entire country.
-We must persevere, again, says the president in a televised speech to the people.
The national closure begins on Saturday and will last four weeks.
- The curfew from 7:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. will be extended to the entire country.
- Therefore, people can go out during the day, but no more than 10 kilometers from their home. If they want to advance further, they must have a certificate.
- No one travels between different regions of the country after April 5, unless it is strictly necessary.
- Stores must be closed, except for pharmacies, supermarkets and the like.
- Kindergartens, schools and secondary schools are closed for three weeks. Students can go to college one day a week.
- No more than six people should meet outdoors.
- People are advised to keep two meters away. The French have had to wear face masks at work and in public for a long time. The government does not recommend the use of homemade masks, because it believes they are insufficient in the face of new variants of the virus. Homemade masks have been banned in schools and businesses since February.
In January, the French president defied professional advice when he did not shut down the country again, despite challenges with the mutated virus. During tonight’s press conference, he defended that choice. He noted that France has “chosen freedom”, while countries like Italy have opted for closure.
“We have had precious days of freedom, weeks of learning for our children, without losing control of the epidemic,” said the French president.
But they still close now:
However, in recent weeks we have faced a new situation, says Macron.
Promises greater capacity
On Wednesday, Macron also makes big promises to increase intensive capacity in the country, from the current capacity of just over 7,000 seats.
– I want to thank the medical students, retirees, military health personnel, all volunteer health personnel. All have mobilized and will mobilize more and more in the coming days so that we can reach a capacity of 10,000 seats, says the president.
In particular, capacity will be increased in the Paris area, according to Macron.
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Aiming for summer
The French president says that all adults over 18 should be able to get vaccinated during the summer.
According to Macron, authorities will begin vaccinating everyone between the ages of 60 and 70 starting on April 16, and then they will begin vaccinating everyone between the ages of 50 and 60 in mid-May.
Starting in mid-June, health authorities will begin vaccinating people under the age of 50, he says.
– A separate vaccination strategy is also planned for the most exposed professions: teachers, police and several others, says Macron.
The French authorities recommend the AstraZeneca vaccine only for people over 55 years of age.
