Once again, Anne Hidalgo's large office at the Hôtel de Ville in Paris has been transformed into a "war room". A crisis unit that is trying to take all measures to counter the coronavirus epidemic. In this speed race, every minute counts and every decision is fraught with consequences. Anne Hidalgo, who has just emerged - to her advantage with 29.33% of the vote - from the first round of the municipal elections, is not at her baptism by fire. The list of crises she had to face made her dizzy with, among other terrorist attacks of November 13, 2015 and fire of Notre-Dame on April 15, 2019.
Such an "experiment" undoubtedly explains why the Hidalgo team perceived the threat of the Covid-19 fairly early on. At the end of January a decision was made, in agreement with the organizers, to cancel the Parisian festivities for the Chinese New Year. At the same time, the town hall informs the government in late January and early February of the measures it is putting in place to prevent the epidemic on its territory and of the precautions necessary for returning to school after the February holidays for children who have stayed in China. During the campaign, Agnès Buzyn awkwardly attacked the mayor of Paris, reproaching him for his inaction ... A faux pas that would cost him dearly.
While in a crisis cell, Anne Hidalgo submitted to the constraints of a campaign for municipal elections of which she did not contest the holding of the first round. Concentrated on the coronavirus crisis, it refuses for the moment to open the slightest controversy on the advisability of these electoral operations while the epidemic started. In the name of a pragmatism that she often claims, she focuses on efficiency.
Hidalgo therefore prefers to withhold his judgment on the action of the executive in the fight against the pandemic, raising the contrary, for the moment, the quality of a "well-established and fluid" system between the teams of the Paris city hall and the State. Faced with the gravity of an unprecedented health crisis in the modern period, the mayor of Paris strives to embody the legendary motto of his city, Fluctuat nec mergitur (It is beaten by the waves but does not sink). A motto that has never been more topical. This does not mean that the first magistrate of the capital knows neither anxiety nor anger.
How do you manage the health crisis?
ANNE HIDALGO. I work with a tight team made up of ten people. Every morning, I update my deputies on essential municipal services, in particular the delivery of meals to the homes of the elderly, security, street cleaning, the situation in nursing homes and civil status. And my first assistant Emmanuel Grégoire leads a conference call with the executive and all the district mayors, both majority and opposition, who are all very mobilized.
We also set up a very responsive WhatsApp loop with them. I have daily telephone exchanges with Aurélien Rousseau, the director general of the Regional Health Agency, Martin Hirsch, the president of the AP-HP, the prefect of Police and the prefect of the region. Patrick Pelloux (Editor's note: emergency doctor) gives us daily news from the front and advice on how to deal with the crisis. Our system is well established and very fluid. The bond between the actors of the State and the City is absolutely remarkable.
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Are there any sick people among your agents?
To date, there are 56 confirmed cases out of the 50,000 agents in the Paris community. More than 400 volunteer staff came to lend a hand to the teams. I want to thank them for their dedication. They are mobilized to strengthen the hotlines at 39 75, a telephone number that allows all Parisians to report, for example, the presence of isolated elderly people in their building so that we can integrate them into our home delivery system, or to answer their questions.
Do all the services work?
We have long implemented a business continuity plan in the event of a crisis, the objective of which is to maintain essential services: cleanliness, safety on public roads, medico-social facilities or even support for elderly people living at their homes and the homeless. The activity of the city is certainly reduced, but all the essential services function thanks to the personnel which shows a formidable abnegation. Agents presenting medical risks have not been put on the front line. The other City agents are mostly teleworking.
Does the City have enough masks for municipal officials?
The City has always kept a budget allocated to the acquisition of masks. With our stock, we can secure our teams for two months at the rate of three masks per day and per person. The 9,000 agents mobilized in the field and the 7,000 agents in direct contact with the public are concerned. Given our reserves, we gave 500,000 masks to nurses and private doctors and a million masks whose date of use was theoretically passed but which are still useful at the AP-HP. We are making the rest available to the Regional Health Agency, which will redistribute part of it to humanitarian associations which deal in particular with the homeless.
In the long term, will it not be necessary to equip all Parisians?
This is another subject. The absolute priority today is that healthcare workers have masks and that agents in contact with the public who ensure the continuity of public service in times of crisis can be equipped.
Have agents exercised their right of withdrawal?
No. There was a great social dialogue. I would also like to thank all the agents for their exceptional mobilization. We relied on preventive occupational medicine to avoid exposing people with pathologies that could be aggravated by the coronavirus.
Are there measures that are being studied or already in place to ensure the supply of Parisians?
I exchanged on this subject with the boss of the Rungis market. At this stage, there is no alert on a possible risk of food shortage.
Are you going to maintain the markets?
Doctors tell us that we must try to keep food markets outside because there is less risk of contamination than in other types of businesses. But it is necessary to accompany the openings with drastic measures. Security barriers were placed where necessary at market entrances and in front of stalls to control flows. Dealers were asked to mark safety distances on the ground to empower customers.
With the police headquarters, major markets such as Belleville, Barbès, Aligre or those of the 14th and 15th centuries were placed under reinforced surveillance. If the safety instructions are not followed in certain markets, we will close them. We have also taken measures to close the banks of the Seine, the lawns of the Esplanade des Invalides and the Champ de Mars.
Are these measures well respected by Parisians?
This Saturday morning, we could see that the safety instructions were respected by the Parisians. But we continue to follow very closely the situation on the major Parisian food markets.
Many Parisians have left the capital. Do you have any idea how many people left?
We have no indication. We have indeed seen Paris emptying. But the majority of Parisians are confined to their apartment. I know how difficult it is, especially with children. I want to thank the Parisians for their patience and the creativity they deploy to live this situation in the best possible conditions.
The migration of Parisians worries some provincials who fear the spread of the virus. How do you judge this behavior?
I will not comment on this phenomenon. My role is to be at my post and find solutions. We have just decided that the crèches that we have opened to accommodate the children of the nursing staff would be completely free. Nearly 200 toddlers are currently cared for in twenty-one establishments.
Migrants have settled in Aubervilliers, just across the ring road. What measures have you taken to protect them and the residents?
I took care of this camp at the start of the week. I have made fifteen gymnasiums available to the state for accommodation. The government requisitioned a gymnasium for families, another for foreign minors, a third for lonely men and a last for refugees. The prefecture has opened two centers (the former Rochefoucauld hospital in the 14th century and the Ney center in the 18th century) to accommodate people with Covid-19. A family sheltering operation enabled 48 people, including 25 children, to be placed under protection.
And the homeless?
Paris has around 3,500 homeless people. About 5,000 meals are provided by the Aurore association. The school coffers which are currently stationary since the students are confined to their homes will prepare meal trays. The marauders have faced a decline in the number of volunteers, often elderly, who for obvious health reasons have to stay at home. We launched calls for volunteers via the “Solidarity Factory” to strengthen the teams responsible for distributing food aid.
Did you get help from the state to provide volunteers with safety equipment?
It is essential and it is in progress. Part of our mask inventory is now used by volunteers.
Can we say that the maximum has been done to protect migrants from the coronavirus?
Migrants are fragile populations, unfortunately it is likely that we will have to deplore despite our efforts cases of contamination. But the system put in place with the State is solid. It provides places for those who have been contaminated. Those who are in serious condition will be treated like everyone else in the hospital. For the others, we have provided accommodation, either in the hotel in individual rooms, but also in gymnasiums because we had to deal with the most urgent. The town hall also takes care with the Red Cross of unaccompanied minors that we have sheltered.
Are there places to date for all homeless people?
Food distribution is in place. As for accommodation, the city's homeless service is mobilized as well as the large specialized associations, but all is not settled. The systems are being put in place, public by public: isolated minors, women and families with children and isolated men. State and city departments agree that this is a major issue. We are also concerned about security, delinquency and addicts.
Should we fear for the elders in the Ehpad?
This is a subject on which we have all been mobilized in Paris since the first days of the crisis. We are closely monitoring the development of the situation in nursing homes. The fragility of our elders exposes them particularly to the epidemic. The priority is to prevent entry of the virus into residences by any means. We are constantly exchanging with the teams and will be distributing masks for the staff of all Parisian establishments, public or private.
Are you still concerned about the insufficient compliance with containment rules?
Everyone must be aware of the very serious danger that threatens us. Containment must be extremely strict, except for those who cannot telecommute and whose activity is essential to the functioning of society. You have to stay at home, it's the only way to beat the virus. We must move towards a much more severe confinement. Every time we leave our house we put others in danger.
Will we hold the shock?
Yes, it is necessary and I want to tell the Parisians that their municipal services are there and are doing a remarkable job. Having spoken about it with Martin Hirsch, I can assure you that the determination of the AP-HP teams is also impressive. Being able to benefit from such high quality public services is a huge asset and I would like to thank all the caregivers very warmly. I also have a great thought for the sick and their families who unfortunately are going through very difficult trials.
With hindsight, was it a mistake to have organized the first round of municipal elections last Sunday at the start of the epidemic?
I do not wish to discuss what should or should not have been done. We have a crisis to manage. When we get out, there will be feedback and responsibilities will be established in relation to what was known and what was not.
Were you surprised to hear Agnès Buzyn describe the masquerade campaign?
I don't want to comment. The elections were held within the democratic framework fixed by the Constitution and arbitrated by the Government. The campaign was indeed special, but the Parisians courageously mobilized and expressed themselves freely.