Coronavirus: what you need to know this Tuesday, June 30

Good evening,

Former Minister of Health Agnès Buzyn gave her explanations to the parliamentary commission of inquiry. France has registered 30 new deaths linked to Covid-19 in the last 24 hours. The Court of Auditors has issued an alarming report on the state of public finances, weighed down by the crisis. Finally, professionals anticipate stagnation or even a fall in property prices in the next six months, according to our barometer carried out in partnership with FNAIM.

Good reading,

Roland Gauron, journalist at Le Figaro

1. What happened today

The former Minister of Health Agnès Buzyn was heard on Tuesday by the deputies eager to "learn the lessons" from the coronavirus crisis. Jean-Christophe Marmara / Le Figaro

Agnes Buzyn on the grill. The former Minister of Health was heard this evening before the parliamentary inquiry committee. Clumsy and confused, Agnès Buzyn struggled to convince despite her justifications. "You can't say I didn't anticipate! I never underestimated the risk. There is not a day when we did not anticipate in relation to the WHO, and to international decisions ” , she defended herself, visibly very moved. Agnes Buzyn claims to have had "intuition" from January 22 of the potential seriousness of the epidemic, when the information according to which the virus could be transmitted from one human being to another was known. She then claims to have immediately requested an inventory of all stocks of protective equipment, including masks, as well as the number of resuscitation beds and respirators, and to have launched a first order of one million FFP2 masks . While the “inventory management” of masks, she underlines, “does not belong to the minister” .

Read also: Containment: 0-6 year olds often alone in front of the screens

Where is the epidemic? France has registered 30 new Covid-19-related deaths in the past 24 hours, bringing the number of deaths since the start of the epidemic to 29,843. A total of 8,536 people are still hospitalized, including 602 patients in the intensive care unit. The virus continues to circulate on the territory, warned the Directorate General of Health, noting that 301 "clusters" have been registered since May 9, including 8 new ones. In the United States, where 40,000 new cases are currently detected per day, Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the American Institute of Infectious Diseases, warned: "I would not be surprised if we reached 100,000 per day if we do not reverse the trend." He declined to predict the number of deaths the current wave could cause, but according to an estimate released last week by the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control, the country could reach between 130,000 and 150,000 deaths by 18 July.

Debt sustainability is more than ever an issue, if not the essential issue for public finances.

Public finance alert. In its annual report, the Court of Auditors paints an apocalyptic picture of the state of public finances as the coronavirus crisis hits the country's economy hard. "France has not tackled this crisis with restored public finances" , worry the magistrates of the rue Cambon. France is paying a high price for its very weak capacity to clean up its accounts, with a deficit and a debt that explode much more than in certain other countries of the euro zone. Debt could soar in the coming decade, up to 140% of GDP in the event of “persistent weakness” in the economy. "Debt sustainability is more than ever an issue, if not the essential issue for public finances," said Pierre Moscovici, new first president of the Court of Auditors. The institution thus calls on the government to make an effort “over the long term” in order to rebalance the public accounts.

Read also: Airbus to cut “approximately 15,000 jobs” worldwide, including 5,000 in France

The real estate market is stalling. Real estate agents' perception of the market marks very marked changes with the Covid-19 pandemic, according to our barometer carried out in partnership with the FNAIM. In the eyes of the members of the National Real Estate Federation, the surge in prices is indeed over. They are 53% to see the prices of old houses stabilize in the next six months and 31% to think that they will fall. "We are in a market in the process of correcting itself in relation to the trends that we recorded before the confinement " , analyzes Jean-Marc Torrollion, president of the FNAIM. At issue: the tightening of access to credit. In order to avoid seizing up the machine, professionals believe that it is vital to return to slightly more flexible mortgage terms, in particular by focusing on the household living rather than the sacrosanct debt ratio of up to 33%.

2. See, travel, collect…

The discovery of the hortillonnages of Amiens, close to the city center, is done on foot and especially by boat. ADRT80-AB

Travel. Valérie Sasportas takes us to discover the hortillonnages of Amiens, the "little Venice of the North". The International Garden Festival will start there on July 14. Its organizer Gilbert Fillinger, director of the Art & Gardens association, received it on the spot for a boat trip in the middle of its floating vegetable gardens enclosed in the arms of the Somme. "You have to immerse yourself in the tranquility of a silent boat ride to appreciate how unique and wonderful the place is , " he breathes. Thanks to him, the artists have been sowing their works for 11 years between water and earth. The 2020 edition will be “under the sign of climate change and healthy eating” in 29 gardens, 23 installations and floating architecture. Our journalist suggests a detour to the cathedral, the splendid facade of which will light up every evening from July 10 to September 30.

See. Arte is broadcasting the China-USA documentary , The Battle of the WHO , by Pierre Haski this evening . The latter poses a cruel diagnosis for the organization yet charged since 1948 to alert and protect the world from the plagues. It shows how its director, who is close to Beijing, turned a blind eye to the responsibilities of the regime, resulting in a waste of time that cost many lives. “The passage over Taiwan with which the management of the WHO refused to communicate on the epidemic in order not to offend Beijing is edifying. Paradoxically, this country excluded by the WHO, had to manage on its own and displays the incredible toll of less than ten dead, " underlines our colleague Léa Lutaud. Pierre Haski also returns to the history of the organization - its victories like the eradication of smallpox, its failures against Ebola - and explains with pedagogy the political struggles behind the scenes. Available on VOD until August 28 on the arte.tv website.

It is a marathon through the capital and outside the walls, open to all and free, to plan as you wish thanks to a very lively site.

Collect. The first test event for the art market, the Paris Gallery Weekend begins on Thursday, July 2. The event focuses on the return of collectors. In the absence of international fairs and foreign buyers, the time has come for initiatives and public curiosity. Valérie Duponchelle and Béatrice de Rochebouët detail the program for this 7th edition. The event which brings together 60 galleries offers 72 exhibitions to discover on seven routes through the city. Or 47 solos, from graffiti artist JonOne at Rabouan Moussion to "We Are The Painters" at In Situ, from Per Kirkeby at Catherine Putman to Mario Ceroli at Tornabuoni. And 25 group exhibitions as a form of synthesis of the talents and the spirit of each of the galleries involved. "It is a marathon through the capital and outside the walls, open to all and free, to plan as you wish thanks to a very lively site" , advise our journalists.

To cook. Frédéric Doucet, from the Michelin-starred restaurant at Maison Doucet, invites us to sit down to eat at his home, in Charolles, in Saône-et-Loire. On the menu: Charolais beef. He is one of the chefs who knows this special meat best. “The beef here is exceptional. The grass he grazes is rich, it gives a very red meat, beautifully marbled, of incomparable tenderness ”, he praises. To finish convincing us, the chef shows us how to prepare the 40-day mature rib steak that he usually serves his customers. "It is accompanied by a herbaceous condiment, a kind of pesto that changes with the seasons," he says. To be tasted preferably - and in moderation - accompanied by a mercurey premier cru Champs Martin 2018 from the amazing Lorenzon estate.

3. Photo of the day

The Center Pompidou reopens on Wednesday with the epic story of the packaging of the Pont Neuf by Christo, postponed by confinement. The death, on May 31 in New York at 84, of the great media plastic artist, could contribute to boost attendance. ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT / AFP

Read also: Center Pompidou, Grand Palais, Orsay, Army Museum, Cluny ... 5 major Parisian museums reopen

4. Deconfinement, phase 3

The government has announced a new round of deconfinement easing that will take effect on Monday, June 22. Here is what is allowed again:

• French people can return to the cinema, the casino, the game rooms and go to holiday centers.
• Team sports are again allowed. Combat sports remain prohibited, except at a high level.

What remains prohibited and what will still have to wait:

• The stadiums and racetracks will reopen on July 11, with a maximum number of 5,000 spectators.
• River cruises will wait for the same date. Sea cruises could also resume between European ports.
• International fairs, exhibitions, shows, nightclubs and cruises will remain closed until September.
• Gatherings of more than 10 people in public space are always prohibited.
• The activities gathering more than 1500 people must be declared in prefecture.
• Events of more than 5000 people are prohibited at least until August 31.

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 in public spaces.
• 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 several hours on different surfaces.

Read also: Coronavirus: highly contagious patients in the first days of infection

The disease manifests with 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 a state of fatigue , signs of shortness of breath and a dry cough .

6. What to do in case of symptoms?

The most important thing now is to get tested. According to the recommendations of the Ministry of Health, you should, if you have symptoms, stay at home and contact your doctor who will order a test. While waiting for the result, you must isolate yourself, wear a mask and list the people you may have contaminated.

Read also: From the isolation test to the tracing of contact cases, the patient's journey from Covid

If the test is positive, the Primary Health Insurance Fund will contact those likely to be infected. You must then remain isolated for at least 8 days, taking care not to contaminate your loved ones. Watch your health. If you have a fever, take paracetamol. Possibly plan a follow-up teleconsultation with your doctor.

If you feel difficulty breathing , call 15.

If the test is negative, contact your doctor and follow their instructions.

See you tomorrow.