Coronavirus: what you need to know this Tuesday, March 31

Good evening,

Today, as a third week of confinement begins, the situation begins to weigh on the morale of the French. We offer some tips to avoid sinking into gloom . From the SME Kolmi-Hope, in Maine-et-Loire, Emmanuel Macron has set himself the objective of " full independence " in the production of masks. Ile-de-France hospitals are reaching saturation point, forcing the transfer of 38 patients to Brittany. Finally, on the other side of the Pyrenees, Spain has established a "super containment".

Good reading,

Roland Gauron, journalist at Le Figaro

1. Where is the epidemic?

Nearly 500 patients have died from coronavirus in French hospitals in the past 24 hours, a new record increase since the start of the epidemic. The death toll is 3,523, announced the Director General of Health, Jérôme Salomon.

History of the epidemic in the 50 most affected countries. Marie Coussin and Nicolas Mondon for Fig Data

Nearly 22,800 people have been hospitalized, an increase of 1,749 since Monday. Among them, a new very strong influx of heavy cases, 458 patients precisely, in intensive care where 5565 patients are admitted to date. "This situation is completely new in the history of French medicine," said Professor Salomon.

Read also: Follow the evolution of the epidemic, department by department

2. What happened today

Macron's sovereignist turn. The President of the Republic moved to the suburbs of Angers, on the site of Kolmi-Hopen. The SME manufactures protective masks. Emmanuel Macron is committed by the end of the year to ensure "full independence" of France in the production of masks. In passing, the head of state castigated "those who seek to sue when we have not won the war" . From rebellious France to the National Rally, this sovereignist turn was immediately mocked by the opposition. At the same time, Parliament was continuing its work, but at a slow pace. Never more than a dozen elected officials attend the sessions.

Read also: Containment: the fear of a second front in the suburbs

The AP-HP is reaching saturation. The news was expected sooner or later in the week. In Île-de-France, the resuscitation services of the Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP) are on the brink of rupture. On Wednesday, 38 patients from Ile-de-France will have to be transported by medical TGV to Brittany. Le Figaro Live is on board a mobilized Air Force A330, which may soon have to evacuate patients from the capital. In the meantime, the AP-HP is training emergency doctors in nursing to deal with the situation. Because more than 1,600 caregivers working in hospitals in the Paris network have been contaminated.

Uncertainty about the duration of confinement, but also its modalities, increases the feeling of helplessness

Containment, week 3. France is therefore entering its third week of containment. This period begins to weigh on the morale of the French. "Uncertainty as to the duration of confinement, but also its modalities, increases the feeling of helplessness," confirms clinical psychologist Béatrice Millêtre. To remedy this, Le Figaro gives you some advice to fight against gloom. The journalist Aurore Aimelet invites to die the abscess: “Let us therefore dare the dispute to clear the ground. But not just anyhow. ” To get through this ordeal, children need more contact than ever with their comrades and their families, underlines Sarah Terrien.

In Spain, 849 new deaths have been recorded in the last 24 hours. COMUNIDAD DE MADRID / AFP / D. SINOVA

Elsewhere in the world. With 849 new deaths recorded in 24 hours, Spain has again broken its sad record of daily deaths. However, the country applies some of the most drastic rules on the planet. "This week, the government gave a serious extra blow to the screw," reports Matthieu de Taillac from Madrid. For our part, our correspondent Arnaud de la Grange takes us through confined London, where the traditional changing of the guard, in front of the palaces of Buckingham and St James, has not taken place for ten days. In Hungary, Prime Minister Viktor Orban now enjoys full powers thanks to a special “coronavirus” law.

3. Listen, revise, shave?

To laugh. Unable to perform on stage, several comedians have taken over social media to entertain the gallery. Jarry was the first to get started. Every day, at 6.30 pm, he posts on Instagram sketches inspired by his daily life and "receives" a guest, says Nathalie Simon. "Everything is good for bringing cheerfulness to people, " exposes him . I wondered if I was going to eat and gain 15 pounds or do something else? ” Several stooges have followed suit.

Read also: Clips, songs, parodies ... The best videos of confined internet users

Garden. What if containment was an opportunity to convert to permaculture? “Well-meaning gardeners love it. The starred chefs too. More and more people are converting their home vegetable garden to this new trend ” , explains Alyette Debray-Mauduy. The journalist presents the popular approach: "return to the natural mechanisms of nature to create an ecosystem on your balcony, in your garden, in your vegetable patch, to produce fruit and vegetables in self-sufficiency" .

The rules of "kalsarikänni" are simple: relax as you would with friends in a bar, but at home, in shorts or pajamas, with a comforting drink

To escape. For three years now, they have held the envied title of the happiest citizens on the planet. Marine Sanclemente of the Travel Service delivers the secrets of the Finns to survive the test of containment. Starting with the kalsarikänni , also known as Päntsdrunk (drinking underwear) . "The rules of this method of personal development are simple: relax as you would with friends in a bar, but at home, in pants or pajamas, with a comforting drink , " says the journalist.

To cook. Amélie Darvas from Äponem restaurant presents a surprising vegetarian recipe: beluga lentils with coffee. “I particularly like the lenses. We eat them very often at home and I work a lot at the restaurant, where I like to shake up the codes. People rather associate them with salads: this is why I offer you a delicious and creamy recipe whose originality comes from pairing with coffee - another product that I love, ” explains the young star chef.

4. Picture of the day

Italy has recorded 837 additional coronavirus-related deaths in the past 24 hours. For a little over a month, more than 12,400 Italians have been carried by the Covid-19. AFP / Piero CRUCIATTI

5. Containment, instructions for use

Despite the containment measures, it is possible to leave your home in several cases:

• Go to your place of work, if teleworking is impossible.
• Do your shopping in "authorized local shops".
• Go to the doctor or pharmacy.
• Travel to babysit or care for "vulnerable" people.
• Make brief trips, one hour maximum and within a radius of one kilometer, related to individual physical exercise.
• Go to judicial or administrative summons.
• Participate in missions of general interest at the request of the administrative authority.

Read also: Coronavirus: what is allowed and what is prohibited during confinement

In the event of an inspection, you must present a certificate to the police. It can be downloaded here or be handwritten. The document must be completed at each outing to justify the reason. Violators are liable to a fixed fine of 135 euros, or even 1500 euros in the event of a repeat offense.

6. The reflexes to adopt

A few simple steps can limit the spread of the virus. Here they are :

• Wash your hands every hour.
• Cough or sneeze into the crease of his elbow.
• Use disposable tissues.
• Avoid kissing or shaking hands.
• Wear a mask when you are sick.
• Limit your movements as much as possible.

Covid-19 is spread by saliva through close contact with an infected person, especially when the person coughs or sneezes. The virus also remains viable for a few hours on different surfaces.

Read also: Coronavirus: highly contagious patients in the first days of infection

The disease manifests itself in several symptoms. In 9 out of 10 cases, this results in a fever below 39 ° C. According to the World Health Organization, this fever is most often accompanied by a state of fatigue , signs of shortness of breath and a dry cough .

7. What to do in case of symptoms?

The most important thing is not to go immediately to a general practitioner or to the emergency room to avoid infecting more people. Wearing a mask is highly recommended. For the rest, the recommendations of the Ministry of Health differ from case to case.

Stay home if you have few or no symptoms , taking care not to infect your loved ones. If you have a fever, take paracetamol. Possibly plan a follow-up teleconsultation with your doctor.

If you feel difficulty breathing , with a feeling of suffocation, after having felt proud and coughing for several days, call 15. Centers 15 being overwhelmed, rhinitis and fever or cough well tolerated should not make the subject of an appeal.

For any other question - there are probably many - do not hesitate to make a detour by this article.