For several days, we have heard him speak regularly on the coronavirus crisis and its consequences in France. This Thursday, Edouard Philippe answered questions from experts and viewers of TF1 and LCI after having passed through the grill of deputies during a parliamentary hearing on Wednesday, and having carried out a "transparency operation" five days earlier.
Without making any shattering announcement compared to his hearing the previous day, the head of government once again defended the country's strategy to combat the spread of Covid-19. He also outlined the various scenarios for the deconfinement, while specifying that the measures implemented on March 17 will remain in effect for several weeks. Here is what to remember from his speech.
Attention, no departure on vacation possible
As the Easter holidays approach, Edouard Philippe wanted to be very firm. No way to suggest to the French that they can leave their home. “There should not be any vacation leave in the coming days. None, "he said.
The Prime Minister recalled the importance of confinement "which is the only way to allow our caregivers to pass this peak" of the epidemic. "The logic of containment must prevail at least for April 15, probably for longer," also said the head of government, hinting that a further extension will be decided.
The deconfinement, "not for tomorrow morning!"
"The deconfinement is not for tomorrow morning," insisted Edouard Philippe twice in less than a minute, while saying "understand the impatience" of the French. "There are a lot of elements to take into account to make our choices that we do not yet know," insisted the head of government, while the debate is already open on how to end the travel restrictions.
He recalled, as he said on Wednesday, that deconfinement "can only happen gradually", for example by region or by age. This "is probably acquired".
Asked about the only existing model of post-epidemic deconfinement of Covid-19 in the world, in China, Edouard Philippe recalled that the situation was very different. "In China, the confinement did not concern the whole country" while this is the case in France, he insisted.
"More than 500 patients" transferred, a "logistical feat"
For more than a week, dozens of patients have been transferred from the Grand Est and Île-de-France regions to other areas less affected by the epidemic, whether by special TGV, by plane or by medical bus. .
"At the end of the weekend, we will have transferred more than 550 ventilated and intubated patients," said the Prime Minister, describing this as "logistical feat". "It is thanks to this considerable effort that we have been able to free up existing capacities to accommodate patients," he insisted.
A municipal postponement planned for the fall?
The second round of municipal elections, originally scheduled for March 22, is still pending. It is, for the moment, planned for the month of June, provided that the Scientific Council gives a positive opinion. The decision will take place on May 23, confirmed Edouard Philippe.
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"If we note that in May it will not be possible to organize the second round, which many suspect, then it will be necessary to postpone the elections", he added, mentioning as a possibility (among d 'others) next October. In this case, it would be a question of redoing the first round also.
On the other hand, voters in the more than 30,000 municipalities who elected a mayor in the first round on March 15 will not have to return to the polls.
The bac in continuous control?
Graduates know (a little more) what to expect for the tests scheduled from June 17 to 24. Due to the health crisis, it will not be possible to take the bac "under normal conditions" in June or July, confirmed Edouard Philippe.
According to the head of government, the bac 2020 exams will have to be organized in a new way. Among the avenues advanced, he cited "complete continuous monitoring". The Minister of National Education is expected to make announcements on this subject this Friday.
More tests
Edouard Philippe guaranteed a “rapid ramp-up” in the number of tests, after a significant delay at the start of the epidemic. From "more than 20,000 tests per day" today, we will increase in the coming days to 30,000.
Serology tests are also in development, in order to know the proportion of population which is immunized.
"Not always easy" to get mask deliveries
Edouard Philippe insisted on the fact that France could count on the presence, on its soil, of four producers of masks, unlike other countries which have none. "It is not much but it is already that," he agreed. Hexagonal production will increase to “10 million masks per week in the coming weeks,” insisted Edouard Philippe, basing himself as a goal of reaching “five million per week”.
The head of government still recognized that France needed to import large quantities of masks, especially in China. “We have placed orders, now we need to get the deliveries. It is an exercise that is not always easy, ”he conceded, however, when regional presidents alerted the Americans to the takeover of cargo on the tarmac of Chinese airports.
Raising taxes, "the worst answer"
While acknowledging that the country's public accounts were going to "deteriorate", like debt, Edouard Philippe ruled out any tax increase. It would be "the worst answer" to give, he insisted.
Edouard Philippe wants to "prepare the recovery for the world of tomorrow with our partners". "The difficulty will be common, and considerable," he also warned.
"I sometimes get it wrong"
Finally, when asked whether he was optimistic or pessimistic, Edouard Philippe replied that he was "lucid about the risks we have to face, about the difficulties we have to face".
"I always have the fierce will to move forward, to take sometimes difficult decisions," added the Prime Minister, while acknowledging that he sometimes "made mistakes". "It's never simple, you have to know how to recognize it," he added. Before concluding: “Our country can face this challenge. "
