A quarter of the Italian population woke up this Sunday, March 8 in quarantine, an unprecedented measure in Europe decided by Rome to stem the epidemic linked to the new coronavirus which has contaminated more than 100,000 people worldwide. In France, the first binding measures will be implemented this Monday, March 9 in Oise and Haut-Rhin, the departments most affected, with the temporary closure of schools, when the number of infections now exceeds 600.
Philippe Juvin, head of the emergency service at the Pompidou hospital, does not exclude that the country must resort to more drastic measures.
A quarter of Italians were placed in quarantine on March 8 in the north of the country. Is it not disproportionate?
PHILIPPE JUVIN. I do not know, but it is in line with the global strategy to fight against this virus: namely to manage its dissemination by trying to reduce contact between people. Italy reproduces the same quarantine strategy adopted by China, where the epidemic is ebbing. Let's not forget that with this coronavirus, a single sick person can infect three. Incubation times are between two and twelve days, if you do not isolate the population, you would theoretically expose yourself to tripling the number of cases every two to twelve days.
VIDEO. Milan in quarantine: the deserted streets of the Italian economic capital
Should we fear a similar shutdown of a part of France?
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This is part of the hypotheses envisaged within the framework of the influenza pandemic plan, in particular when certain parts of the territory are identified as active reservoirs. This is the case in the Oise. But when many departments or regions are placed in quarantine, this does not mean that we stop living there. People with a heart attack need to go to the hospital, the water and electricity plants continue to operate, the baker has his flour delivered, people go out to shop or go walk their dog.
Many cases of coronavirus are now recorded in Ile-de-France. Is it possible to quarantine the region?
We are not there at all. In the Hauts-de-Seine, for example, we have identified four cases but we must put this in relation to the population of the department which exceeds 1.5 million inhabitants.
When do you think we will go to stage 3?
Even if we are not talking about stage 3, in fact, some municipalities in the Oise are already there. And France is gradually preparing for it, as planned. The measures will obviously be different and more or less restrictive from one region to another. There, we will close a school, there we will cancel a show, and there we will do nothing special. But I insist on one point: the French must take their responsibilities by also participating in this common war against the virus.
How? 'Or' What ?
By respecting the strict rules decreed by the public authorities in terms of hygiene, but also by stopping to come to the emergency room for small sores, especially at this time.
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Are we not doing a little too much around this coronavirus?
The General Directorate of Health is absolutely right to take daily points, to tell the truth and to be transparent. But I also believe that the dangers of this virus need to be put into perspective. 99% of people recover! It is neither the black plague, nor cholera, nor Ebola. Since the start of the classic flu epidemic, 744 patients have been hospitalized in intensive care compared to 45 for coronavirus. The seasonal flu has killed 8,300 people last year ( note: the latest assessment of Covid-19 in France this Sunday reported 16 dead ). So don't panic. If we are all responsible, do not clutter the emergencies, take care of the elderly alone on the opposite floor and we will pass this test which is a collective endurance test.
Should voters be afraid to go to their municipal polling station?
Of course not. There will be hydroalcoholic liquid on site and it is no more dangerous to queue at your baker than in front of the ballot box! Just avoid shaking hands with all assessors.