And now the glasses fog up, the glasses are caught in the elastic… By Jean Castex's own admission, “the mask is not practical”, he grumbles, adjusting it. Everyone ostensibly rubs their hands. The three ministers - the Prime Minister as well as those of Education and Health - are leading by example. After all, that is why they have come together this Thursday morning: asking the French to be exemplary. And adopt the essentials for back to school: distance, mask and hydroalcoholic gel.
VIDEO. "The pandemic is regaining ground", announces Jean Castex
Because if the time is not for “panic”, insists Castex, it is “most certainly” for vigilance and responsibility. "We are in an indisputable phase of recrudescence of the epidemic", he warns while the map of France has blushed again during the night.
From two (Paris and the Bouches-du-Rhône), it has grown to 21 departments (mainly corresponding to dense or tourist areas) called “red zones” because the virus is spreading too quickly. In these territories, the prefects will tighten the screw on gatherings and on the wearing of masks. In Paris and its small crown, it is confirmed: from 8 am this Friday, we will no longer show the tip of his nose.
“What is worrying is the exponential increase in cases. Today, their number is doubled every twelve days. The situation is therefore not going to degenerate overnight, but it could happen at the end of October, the beginning of November if we do not pull ourselves together, ”analyzes Mircea Sofonea, lecturer in epidemiology.
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"The time to react is now", urges the Prime Minister. Weekly conferences of the Minister of Health, all-out tests (1 million per week in September), pedagogy on contact cases ... "Do everything to avoid a re-containment", he says as if to remind that the threat of a return generalized between four walls remains within the realm of possibilities. Moreover, plans are ready, "if and only if it is necessary".
"Let's prevent grandpa and grandma from picking up the children from school"
Because it is necessary to live well and the government calls for a "widest possible recovery", from schools to companies while passing by the leisures, but in a climate of collective responsibility. "Let's avoid grandpa and grandma going to pick up the children from school," advises Castex. A "pious wish", sweeps Hubert Salaün, the spokesperson for the parents of the students of the Peep. “In rural areas, the first type of childcare is the grandparents and in many municipalities extracurricular does not exist. People will do what they can. "
Balance is difficult. The proof: the government is groping. Wearing a mask at university, strongly recommended on Wednesday, became “compulsory” on Thursday. Likewise, kindergarten teachers, who were exempt from it, are now asked to wear it. And in the nurseries? Early childhood professionals are still waiting for a decision on the issue of wearing a mask in the presence of toddlers. "If the new protocol is not published Monday or Tuesday, we will have to refuse the world, because the current rules prevent us from welcoming all the babies", worries Elsa Hervy, general delegate of the federation of nursery companies , which brings together 1900 structures in France.
In schools, the "recommendations" supposed to enlighten them on the concrete organization of the canteen or PE lessons will not arrive until "weekends", admits the rue de Grenelle. Either the day before the start of the school year. As for the procedure which will engage in the first positive case in class, "we have no answer", tackle Sophie Venetitay, number two of Snes, the main union in colleges and high schools. This case will happen very quickly. The virus brought back in the suitcases is likely to spread when schools and offices are in full swing on Monday. Virologist Christine Rouzioux, member of the Academy of Medicine, warns: “September 1 is a cut-throat date. "