Dear readers,
This letter will be devoted to a subject that has burst into our daily lives, the Covid-19 coronavirus. Every day, the editorial staff of Le Figaro mobilizes to cover the evolution of the epidemic in France and abroad. To assist you during the confinement period, to be of service, we invite you to find here every evening a selection of interviews, surveys, reports, analyzes and practical information.
Good reading,
Roland Gauron, journalist at Le Figaro
1. Where is the epidemic?
The latest assessment of health authorities reports 7,730 cases, a doubling since Friday 4 days ago, and 175 deaths, almost twice as many as three days ago, Saturday March 14. 2,579 people are currently hospitalized, including 699 in intensive care. "We are gradually evolving towards a generalized epidemic on the territory," said Professor Jérôme Salomon, director general of health, earlier.
2. What happened today
France under cover. Never in its history has France experienced such a situation. Since Tuesday noon, 67 million French people are confined to their homes, with rare exceptions. Le Figaro takes stock of what is allowed and what is no longer. Some 100,000 police and gendarmes deployed on the territory and were instructed to demonstrate pedagogy before taking action.
Read also: Survival guide to occupy and educate children during confinement
Survive containment. Confinement could turn into a psychological test for some, warns our health journalist Delphine Chayet, based on the Chinese example. The situation is also complicated to explain to children. We sought advice from several experts. Caregivers' nerves may be put to the test. Initiatives are being put in place to provide them with the necessary psychological support.
Every day there is a massive influx of patients in a very serious condition that must be placed on an artificial respirator.
Pr Éric Maury, President of the Resuscitation SocietyHospitals are getting ready. In the Great East, resuscitation services are overwhelmed. "All the resuscitation beds are occupied, there is a massive influx of patients every day in a very serious condition that must be placed on an artificial respirator, and places are taken," said Professor Éric Maury, president of the Resuscitation Society. In Alsace, the army is deploying 30 emergency resuscitation beds. In the rest of the country, usual patients are put on the sidelines and non-urgent operations are deprogrammed, not without a certain mess.
Read also: On the first day of confinement, everyone adapts to do their shopping
The economy is slowing down. "I will not hesitate to use all the means at my disposal to protect large companies," announced the Minister of Economy and Finance, Bruno Le Maire. The government is stepping up financial measures for businesses and employees in difficulty . The food industry is in order to avoid any risk of shortage, explains our journalist specialist in the sector, Olivia Détroyat.
3. Picture of the day
Some 100,000 police and gendarmes are mobilized everywhere in France (here, on the Champs-Élysées in Paris) to ensure fixed and mobile checkpoints. Jean-Christophe Marmara / Le Figaro
4. Containment, instructions for use
Despite the containment measures, it is possible to leave your home in certain cases:
• Go to your place of work, if teleworking is impossible.
• Go shopping in "authorized local shops".
• Go to the doctor or the pharmacy.
• Travel to babysit or take care of “vulnerable” people. Separated parents have the right to go to each other.
• Brief trips related to individual physical exercise. Walking your dog is allowed.
Read also: Coronavirus: what is allowed and what is prohibited during confinement
In the event of an inspection, you must present a certificate to the police. It can be downloaded here or can be written by hand. The document must be completed at each outing to justify the reason. Violators are liable to a fine of 38 euros, which will quickly be increased to 135 euros.
5. The reflexes to adopt
A few simple steps can limit the spread of the virus. Here they are :
• Wash your hands every hour.
• Cough or sneeze into the crease of his elbow.
• Use disposable tissues.
• Avoid kissing or shaking hands.
• Wear a mask when you are sick.
• Limit your movements as much as possible.
Covid-19 is spread by saliva , through close contact with an infected person, especially when the person coughs or sneezes. The virus also remains viable for a few hours on different surfaces.
Read also: Coronavirus is contagious, even without symptoms
The disease manifests itself in several symptoms. In 9 out of 10 cases, this results in a fever below 39 ° C. According to the World Health Organization, this fever is most often accompanied by fatigue , signs of shortness of breath and a dry cough .
6. What to do in case of symptoms?
The most important thing is not to go immediately to a general practitioner or to the emergency room to avoid infecting more people. In all cases, wearing a mask is highly recommended. For the rest, the recommendations of the Ministry of Health differ from case to case:
• Stay at home, if you have few or no symptoms , taking care not to infect your loved ones. If you have a fever, take paracetamol. Possibly plan a follow-up teleconsultation with your doctor.
• If you feel the difficulty of breathing , with feeling of suffocation, after having felt proud and a cough for several days, call 15. The centers 15 being overwhelmed, rhinitis and fever or cough well tolerated should not make the subject of an appeal.
For any other question - there are probably many - do not hesitate to make a detour by this article or to ask it directly to our journalists, who answer it every day.
See you tomorrow.