A Defense Council met this Friday at the Elysee Palace, to deal with the rebound of the Covid-19 epidemic.
In an attempt to contain it, the government has therefore taken a number of decisions, announced this Friday afternoon by Prime Minister Jean Castex, from Matignon, where he placed himself in isolation after having rubbed shoulders with the director of the Tour de France, positive for Covid-19.
No drastic measures, but a new call for collective responsibility.
We take stock.
42 departments now in red
Neither general containment nor local containment has been decided at this stage.
However, some new restrictive measures could be taken locally, especially in the 42 departments now classified in red, insisted the Prime Minister.
"There is no automatic consequence" for these departments, but the prefects concerned will have free rein to "trigger additional risk reduction measures" (wearing a mask compulsory, restriction of gatherings, limitation of opening hours of certain businesses, etc.).
Thus in Marseille, Bordeaux and Guadeloupe, Jean Castex "asked the prefects to propose, by Monday, a set of new additional measures".
A fortnight shortened to 7 days and checks
The period of isolation - from infected people or contact cases of an infected person - will be reduced from fourteen to seven days.
The two-week self-isolation is indeed poorly respected by the French, pointed out the scientific council.
However, studies have shown that most Covid contamination occurs in the two days before and five days after the first symptoms.
It is "essential that everyone strictly respect this period of isolation" of seven days.
Also, good respect for self-isolation "will give rise to checks", warned the head of government.
The "prioritization" of screening tests
Better targeted screening.
While the queues are endless in front of the laboratories and the deadlines for reporting results are growing, the government has decided to restore order.
Priority queues will be set up: will be considered as priority people who present the "symptoms of Covid", contact cases of infected people and nursing staff, enumerated Jean Castex.
"For these priority people, we are going to strengthen the dedicated circuits of the laboratories".
“Time slots” and “screening tents” will be “dedicated” to them, said the head of government.
Non-symptomatic people, who are simply wondering about possible contamination, will have to wait a little longer before being tested.
2000 recruitments for tracing
Faced with the shortcomings of “contact-tracing”, Jean Castex announced “2,000 additional recruitments within the Health Insurance and regional health agencies to carry out the tracing” of Covid-19 cases.
A call for collective accountability
Not without recalling the barrier gestures, the Prime Minister once again launched a “solemn appeal to the sense of responsibility of each of us” and urged “the elderly to observe the greatest caution on a daily basis”.