“Test, trace, isolate. "Three words that sum up the French strategy for controlling the epidemic since May 11, the date of deconfinement. But with contaminations now on the rise, how can we avoid another forced isolation this fall, which many fear? And ensure that schools remain open and that businesses do not lower the curtain. Some strategies adopted locally to contain the epidemic are working. As long as everyone puts their own money into it.
In Mayenne, generalized tests
No one expected it. At the end of June, a first outbreak of contamination of 28 people was detected in a slaughterhouse in this western department. The first in a series that will raise the incidence rate of Mayenne to 143 per 100,000 inhabitants at the end of July. It was therefore necessary to tighten the screw quickly. On July 30, the prefect of Mayenne banned gatherings of more than 10 people, introduced the wearing of a compulsory mask on public roads in 69 municipalities, but also in open air spaces, organized massive screenings and tracing of contact persons .
The result is clear: one month after these restrictions were put in place, the incidence rate fell to 23 per 100,000 inhabitants according to the latest data from Public Health France. A figure still above the alert threshold but which demonstrates a confirmed ability to slow the spread of the virus.
In Barcelona, bars closed early
On the other side of the Pyrenees, the joys of deconfinement have only been felt in a mixed bag. Since July 17, a month and a half after the end of confinement, the Barcelona authorities have not hesitated for a second to force the bars, identified as the main place of contamination, to close at… 9 pm! A measure that shakes up the habits of the Spaniards known to dine around 10 p.m. in summer. Cinemas and theaters have also had to remain closed, and discos have been converted into restaurants until 1 am.
Because impossible to stop all the food shops in the middle of a summer break in one of the most touristic cities in Europe. The restaurants continue to be open, but the reception capacity is limited to 50% of the establishment's capacity. Wearing a mask, on the other hand, is made compulsory on public roads and even in places where social distancing can be respected. The authorities hope that these measures will soon bear fruit.
In South Korea, karaoke is over
Another continent, another policy. South Korea, one of the first countries affected in the spring after China, reported 397 new cases of contamination on Sunday, the largest daily increase since early March. It is ten times less than in France. The restrictions in force in the Seoul region have nevertheless been extended to the whole country: closure of beaches, restaurants, museums and karaoke bars.
This rapid reaction is due to the fear of an increase in contamination linked to returning from vacation in Europe. A fortnight is compulsory for any foreigner staying in the country, with several tests carried out upon arrival in the territory. A policy guided by a precautionary principle that leaves no room for chance. Already in the spring, the country had distinguished itself for having succeeded in containing the epidemic thanks to a tracing campaign as effective as it was worrying with the reconstruction of the movements of patients thanks to video surveillance, the use of their bank card or still on their phone. Massive tests were also organized, up to 10,000 screenings per day.
