Coronavirus: what you need to know this Tuesday, May 19

Good evening,

Deconfinement, day 9. Today, the scientific council does not oppose the organization of the second round of municipal elections in late June. The 35-hour debate is making a comeback with the crisis. The editorial team returns in detail to the Franco-German stimulus plan presented yesterday. Finally, we take stock of the scenarios to be expected while deconfinement is about to produce its first effects on the epidemic in France.

Good reading,

Roland Gauron, journalist at Le Figaro

1. Where is the epidemic

The balance sheet was revised slightly down Tuesday to 28,022 deaths against 28,239 Monday, 217 fewer deaths, according to the Directorate General of Health, due to a change in data in Ehpad. These deaths are now divided into 17,714 deaths (+125) in hospitals and 10,308 (-342) in social and medico-social establishments.

Average change in the number of patients over a week Marie Coussin and Nicolas Mondon / Fig Data

The number of people hospitalized due to their contamination continues to drop, especially in intensive care units, which treat 1894 serious cases, 104 fewer than on Monday. This statistic drops continuously from a peak to 7,148 patients in intensive care on April 8.

Read also: Follow the evolution of the epidemic, department by department

The number of confirmed cases of infection with the new coronavirus since the start of the epidemic increased from 524 to 143,427.

2. What happened today

The second round of municipal elections in June? The scientific council did not oppose the organization of the poll in June, but under certain health conditions. The government was awaiting the opinion of the body before organizing the second round of municipal elections. This could take place on June 21 or 28. Édouard Philippe invited the different party leaders tomorrow, at 7 p.m. in Matignon, to discuss with them. Several elected officials and associations have already voted for a poll in June. The idea raises some reservations in the majority. Richard Ferrand notably questioned the relevance of an express campaign in the midst of a health crisis. "Satisfy Anne Hidalgo and Christian Estrosi or give reason to Richard Ferrand? Édouard Philippe can decide what he wants, he will be criticized anyway , ” summarizes Guillaume Tabard.

Read also: Has the health crisis put the generations back to back?

Back to the Franco-German plan. The editorial staff of Le Figaro returns in detail to the European recovery plan presented yesterday by the Franco-German couple. Florentin Collomp from the Economy department tells us how Emmanuel Macron managed to rally Angela Merkel to the idea of ​​European financial solidarity. In Germany, the "180 degree turn" operated by the Chancellor has been well received in the political class, attracting only the wrath of the conservative current of the CDU, underlines our correspondent Pierre Avril. However, the so-called frugal countries of the EU - the Netherlands, Austria, Sweden and Denmark - are far from having said their last word and are already thinking of a counter-attack. “They intend to prepare a common position. And could, in the end, prove to be as tough in this negotiation as they had been on the European budget three months ago, ”warns our correspondent in Brussels, Anne Rovan.

Pandora's box is open. All those who want to do away with the 35 hours have gone there with their proposal to make the French work more.

The debate revived on the 35 hours. The question of working time has re-emerged in the public debate, the coronavirus crisis pushing to rethink the organization of work in companies. "Pandora's box is open. All those who want to end the 35 hours have gone there with their proposal to make the French work more , " notes our journalist Marc Landré. On the right, there are various approaches to the question, but the idea of ​​increasing working time is imperative for everyone. Containment has already forced managers of many large companies to review their way of working. Which, according to Anne Bodescot of the Economy department, could lead to a reduction in hierarchical levels. Also, according to her colleague Anne-Hélène Pommier, collective performance agreements, making it possible to modify the organization of companies to adapt it to economic conditions, will multiply in the coming months.

Read also: Deconfinement: why hairdressers increased their prices

A still uncertain future. It is still too early to know the impact of deconfinement on the circulation of the epidemic. There is an average of ten days between the time of infection and hospitalization. Tristan Vey of the Science Service, gave an update on the scenarios to expect after May 11. "Unless the virus has considerably lost its contagiousness due to the warming climate, there is no reason to think that the epidemic has not started to start again with the lifting of the containment" , warns our reporter. Another worrying sign: in China, where the pandemic started, two cities in the Northeast were placed under confinement after the detection of new infections, reports our correspondent on site, Sébastien Falletti. Meanwhile, cases of Covid-19 are increasing in abattoirs in several countries. Under these conditions, Le Figaro checked whether it was risky to consume meat.

3. See, read, walk ...

See. At a time when the date for the reopening of theaters is still unknown, the drive-in appeals to spectators eager to discover films on the big screen. Invented in 1933 in New Jersey and at its peak in the 1950s with the rise of the car radio, the concept had been missing in France since the late 1980s. Today it is enjoying a new life with deconfinement, according to our colleague Léna Lutaud. If you believe it, Gautier Labrusse, the owner of the Lux cinema in Caen, is the first to have had this idea: "Seeing films on the big screen confined in cars is ideal for respecting health rules."

Read also: Irritations, pimples, itching ... How to limit the side effects of wearing the mask on our skin?

Walk around. From the Rochefort forest to Conflans-Sainte-Honorine via the Essonne rivers and marshes: Sophie De Santis du Figaroscope offers residents of the capital, deprived of greenery and fresh air for two months, to recharge their batteries in surrounded by nature less than 100 kilometers from Paris. “Parisians (re) discover the bucolic charm of their region, greener than we think. There are thus 4 of the 54 regional natural parks in France, with 50% of agricultural areas and 25% of green areas, the rest being dedicated to the urban. From the small to the large crown, Greater Paris now takes on its full meaning, ” recalls the journalist.

Through a gruesome new carnival, Edgar Allan Poe gives horror a certain beauty

Read. Alice Develey, of the Culture department, gives us three reasons to reread the New extraordinary stories of Edgar Allan Poe. “The author's accounts are so detailed that they almost make the evil images they provoke almost true. The prose is as inhabited. Words, haunted. From one page to another, our mind goes numb. Suddenly, a mummy comes back to life like Frankenstein, a king dressed up as an orangutan ends in flames ... When did the fantastic take precedence over reality? Poe engineered everything. The brevity of the news strengthens its intensity ”, underlines our journalist. " Through a macabre news carnival, Poe gives horror a certain beauty."

Read also: The theater acts of presence

Taste. Today, Auvergne chef Adrien Descouls, in the kitchen of the Michelin-starred restaurant Origines, presents us with a local product that is dear to him: Cantal cheese. “An inventive 30-year-old, he sparks the Broc, a small village near Issoire. One of his specialties is “buron soup”, which he serves in winter. It replaces the young cantal with extra-old, which it transforms into foam: this will bind the soup directly under the eyes of the customer, " praises our gastronomic columnist Stéphane Durand-Souffland. Our guest chef has entrusted him with the secret of his madeleines at the cantal. To taste, according to him, accompanied by a red from the Pélissier estate, Cuvée X.

4. Photo of the day

The owners of around thirty bars, restaurants and cultural establishments in the La Villette basin, in the 19th arrondissement of Paris, have lined up a thousand empty chairs to alert them to their critical situation. Martin BUREAU / AFP

Read also: Takeout: for bars, it's "always better than nothing"

5. Deconfinement, instructions for use

The deconfinement does not mark the return to the life of before. It is done gradually and differentiated according to the red or green areas. Here are some rules to remember.

• The movements are allowed a limit of 100 km around the home. Beyond that, a certificate - available here - is required to justify a compelling, family or professional reason. The borders are closed until June 15.
• In public transport , the mask is compulsory and its absence liable to a fine of 135 euros. In Île-de-France, an employer certificate is required during peak hours. It can be downloaded here.
• The gatherings are limited to 10 people in the public space.
• Parks and gardens are once again open in green areas only . Forests, on the other hand, are accessible everywhere. The beaches are in principle closed unless the prefect decides otherwise.
• The practice of individual sport is again authorized outdoors, respecting the limit of 10 participants.
• Places of worship are open, but religious ceremonies should be able to resume before the end of the month.

6. 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: 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 fatigue , signs of shortness of breath and a dry cough .

7. 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.