After the summer break, the French met on Thursday the press briefing of the Prime Minister to which the Covid-19 epidemic had accustomed them. Jean Castex replaced Édouard Philippe, but he took the formula of his predecessor, from Matignon: it will be necessary to "live with the virus" , he warned, noting an "indisputable phase of recrudescence of the epidemic", to the alongside his ministers of national education and health. This health point, to which Olivier Véran will give himself every week, will be completed next Thursday by the presentation of the recovery plan of 100 billion euros.
Read also: Covid-19: the executive toughens the rules to reassure the French
● 19 new departments in the red zone, 21 in total
The new cases of contamination detected are increasing. From 1,000 detected each day when the confinement was lifted in mid-May, they rose to 3,000 dailies, insisted the Prime Minister. “The more we test, the more we find,” he conceded, “but this increase in testing does not explain everything” . Jean Castex announced the passage in red of 19 departments, where the virus is actively circulating: these are added to Paris and Bouches-du-Rhône. In these areas, the executive does not rule out a closure of cafes and restaurants from 11 p.m., already in force in Marseille since Wednesday. Guyana and Mayotte remain in health emergency until October 31.
Areas of active virus circulation. Screenshot of a slide presented by the Prime Minister.
● Companies, schools, Paris ... The obligation to wear a mask extends
The obligation to wear a protective mask is gaining ground. The general rule is as follows: "wearing a mask is now compulsory without all the closed spaces where several people are located". 700 tickets for not wearing a mask are issued on average per day in the country.
- The obligation extends to companies from September 1, with the exception of individual offices, recalled the Prime Minister, without excluding "adaptations" on which the High Council of Public Health must decide by Friday.
Wearing a mask is now compulsory without all the closed spaces where several people are located.
Jean Castex- From the start, the obligation also applies to all teachers , from kindergarten to high school, for students from 11 years old, and for all - students and teachers - in higher education. Regarding nursery staff, the executive "is awaiting an opinion from the competent health authorities," said Olivier Véran.
- In Paris , everyone will have to wear a mask in public space, on the decision of the Paris prefect " after consultation with the mayor" , Anne Hidalgo.
● 50 million masks for low-income and precarious families
Faced with pressure from the opposition calling for free masks for students, Jean Castex indicated that 50 million had been distributed to 3 million poor and precarious families. "The operation will be renewed in October, and will be repeated as much as necessary" , assured the Prime Minister.
To read also: Guillaume Tabard: "Covid, recovery plan: the bets of Jean Castex"
● "Do everything" to avoid "generalized re-containment"
The government is preparing for a possible second wave of the epidemic. The "territorial reconfinement plans or global ready" , as "our hospital system" , the Premier said. Jean Castex wants "to do everything " to avoid a " generalized reconfinement " and "a massive influx of patients in intensive care units" , considering that this objective was " within our collective reach ", "as long as we are all mobilized and responsible " .
● Goal of one million tests per week
The government wants "to rise in the short term to one million tests per week " to curb the epidemic in France, against more than 800,000 currently, said the Minister of Health, Olivier Véran. Faced with a still long waiting period, the goal is to " make the tests available to all those who need them and all those who want them ".
