This "problematic mutation of the virus, with a much more aggressive form" shows "the complexity of the latter, its aggressiveness, dare I say its inventiveness, and the humility that we must always have", commented the head of the state, in solitary confinement after being himself tested positive for Covid-19 on Thursday, during a council of ministers where he was on video conference and whose images were exceptionally broadcast.
"It is an exceptional situation which led us to take this rapid decision and which should lead us to redouble our vigilance on the evolution" of the virus, added from the official residence of La Lanterne the President of the Republic, dressed in black and wearing a mask on his 43rd birthday.
" Out of control "
The suspension of travel was announced on Sunday after an extraordinary Health Defense Council and comes in the wake of similar measures taken by Belgium, the Netherlands, Italy, Germany, Luxembourg or the Ireland, while a variant of the Sars-CoV-2 virus was detected across the Channel, considered by London as "out of control" on its territory.
"We had to make a difficult decision, but one which was essential in view of the circulation of this variant of Covid-19", justified on RTL the government spokesman Gabriel Attal because "we must have vigilance and absolute precaution when a mutation is presented as being more contagious ”.
"European coordination"
A decree published Monday in the Official Journal specifies "that given the health situation in the United Kingdom, […] the movement of people from this country to the territory of the Republic is prohibited until December 23, 2020 at 00h ".
The government has given itself this 48 hour deadline to "build a European coordination", but also to "build a protocol that could allow those of our fellow citizens who are in Great Britain and who had planned to return to spend the holidays. with their families to do so, ”Mr. Attal said.
This return would be possible "on condition of having a protective health protocol both for them and for our country", he insisted, inviting them to produce a negative PCR test to be carried out "today or tomorrow" if they want to have a chance to come home for Christmas.
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"It is possible that (this variant of the virus) circulates in France", however admitted the Minister of Health Olivier Véran, recalling "that it was identified once in Italy".
“We will find out, we are launching genotypic studies.
Over the last few days, 500 viral strains have been genetically analyzed and this variant has not been found, which does not mean that it is not circulating ”.
Health authorities said Sunday that France had recorded 12,799 new cases of Covid-19 contamination over the past 24 hours, against 17,565 the day before.