It was inevitable, it is now official. France is now in stage 3 of the epidemic of the new coronavirus, which corresponds to an active circulation of the virus throughout the territory, announced this Saturday evening the Director General of Health, Jérôme Salomon. "We are facing a beginning and rapid epidemic on the national territory," he said during a press briefing.
The Director General of Health has also announced that 830 new cases of patients infected with the new coronavirus have been detected in France, a doubling of cases in 72 hours, for a total of 4,500 since the start of the epidemic, including more than 300 serious cases in intensive care. The pandemic has so far killed 91 people in France.
A dozen infected MPs
"We are seeing an acceleration in the spread of the virus and, in certain territories, a very significant increase in the number of people in intensive care," deplores the Prime Minister. Jérôme Salomon said that he was "very struck by the number of seriously ill, especially among young people" in certain regions. The first case was detected in prison in Fresnes, where a 74-year-old detainee tested positive. The geographic spread of the virus also continues with a first case in Mayotte, French department of the Indian Ocean.
Secretary of State for the Ecological Transition, Brune Poirson, has also been tested positive for coronavirus, the second case in the government after the Minister of Culture, Franck Riester. And at least three new deputies have also been infected with coronavirus, bringing the total number of cases to a dozen in the assembly.
As for health measures proper, once the third level in the management of the epidemic has been crossed, there is no longer any question of trying to detect and isolate cases to stop the epidemic… but rather to mitigate its effects. The strategy of the health authorities then changes to move from “a logic of detection and individual care to a logic of collective action”, specifies the document of preparation for the epidemic risk of the Ministry of Health.
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The influenza A plan adapted to the context
The plan to fight the epidemic includes the same measures as that developed in 2011 after the influenza A (H1N1) pandemic of 2009. France, now officially at stage 3 of the epidemic, active circulation of the virus throughout of the territory, will therefore close at midnight its restaurants, bars, nightclubs, cinemas and its non-essential shops. But Sunday's municipal elections are maintained.
To cope with the resurgence of cases, the plan drawn up after the influenza A pandemic also provided for the availability of closed establishments (schools, sports centers, etc.) if necessary, and the use of volunteers and associations, in support of nursing staff.
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Finally, the State must monitor the prices and availability of basic necessities in the places of distribution, to avoid any shortage and inflation.