The Northern Prefecture announced this Saturday a strengthening of measures against Covid-19 in Dunkirk.
The situation, says the prefecture, "has deteriorated sharply in recent days," wrote the prefecture in a press release, pointing to "an incidence rate of 515 cases per 100,000 inhabitants against 384 a week ago, while the presence of the English variant has accelerated on the territory ”.
As of Wednesday evening, the incidence rate was 485, against 208 nationally.
The Hauts-de-France regional health agency announced for next week an "exceptional screening campaign" in the sector.
Earlier today, the mayor of Dunkirk, Patrice Vergriete, announced on his Facebook page that the penetration rate of the English variant was three times higher than the regional average, and six times higher than the national average.
Worried, the mayors of the urban community of Dunkirk (North) asked the authorities on Friday to close middle and high schools a week before the school holidays and to give the possibility of waiving the compulsory education for children attending primary school.
⚠️ # COVID19 ⚠️
Following the deterioration of the epidemic evolution in #Dunkirk, health measures are reinforced.
pic.twitter.com/wt4RSPUF61
- Prefect of the Hauts-de-France and North region (@ prefet59) February 13, 2021
The prefecture preferred to postpone the arrival and departure of classes in nursery and elementary schools in order to avoid crowds and to operate colleges and high schools "in mixed mode (face-to-face / distance) to reduce the number of students present. ".
The obligation to wear a mask in public spaces is also extended to all the municipalities of the urban community of Dunkirk and the community of municipalities of Hauts de Flandre from February 14.
The prefecture of the North also recommends "as far as possible, to limit travel to and outside (of these two communities of municipalities) and to restrict as much as possible its close contacts to the family sphere".
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It announces "the strengthening of vaccination in the territory of Dunkirk by the mobilization of additional doses of vaccine" and screening operations in schools and businesses.