Towards new restrictions in 20 departments to fight the epidemic?
If the situation continues to deteriorate there, then these territories will experience measures similar to those put in place in Nice and Dunkirk, Prime Minister Jean Castex warned during his press conference this Thursday evening.
The government has also drawn up an inventory of treatments against Covid-19, the vaccination campaign and indicators for monitoring the epidemic.
Here's what to remember.
20 departments under surveillance
In addition to the Alpes-Maritimes and the North, 18 metropolitan departments have an incidence rate greater than 250 cases per 100,000 inhabitants over the last seven days, above the maximum alert threshold defined by the government.
"The health situation in our country has deteriorated over the past few days", insisted the Prime Minister, recalling that "yesterday we counted more than 30,000 positive cases".
Jean Castex detailed the list of territories under surveillance: in Hauts-de-France, it is Pas-de-Calais, Nord, Somme and Oise.
In Paca, the Alpes-Maritimes, Bouches-du-Rhône and Var are on maximum alert.
For the Île-de-France region, all departments are concerned.
Finally, in the Grand-Est, it is the Moselle and Meurthe-et-Moselle which are particularly affected.
Added to this are the Drôme, the Eure-et-Loir and the Rhône.
Update at the start of the week
The idea of this reinforced surveillance, specified the Prime Minister, is that the prefectures concerned can launch consultations now to act quickly.
Monday, the prefecture of the Alpes-Maritimes, after the arrival of Olivier Véran, announced a partial confinement on weekends and the closure of supermarkets of more than 5,000 m2.
The Minister of Health announced the same device on Saturday for the agglomeration of Dunkirk (North).
A new situation update will be made at the start of the week.
"If the situation continues to deteriorate, we will take reinforced measures which will come into force from the weekend of March 6," said Jean Castex.
The Prime Minister added that it could be measures similar to those taken in the Alpes-Maritimes and Dunkirk.
“Depending on local realities, we will see whether additional measures need to be taken.
"
Variant circulation rate
The circulation of variants on French territory is accelerating.
Regions with an incidence rate above the maximum alert threshold are also faced with higher proportions of British, South African or Brazilian variants of the virus.
The English variant, more contagious, "now concerns about half of people with Covid in France", announced the Prime Minister.
This variant, which represented less than 40% according to figures released a week ago, raises fears of an epidemic explosion because of its greater contagiousness.
"There are still places where we see that there are many variants, but not many cases", noted the Minister of Health Olivier Véran.
And to add: “There is not a systematic correlation between the number of cases and the presence of the variants.
"
6 p.m. curfew maintained
Regarding the curfew at 6 p.m., no change is planned.
It remains in force throughout the territory, even in the Alpes-Maritimes and in the agglomeration of Dunkirk (North), despite the implementation of partial containment at weekends.
"This decision allowed us to save time," explained Jean Castex.
Our economic activity did not collapse, our businesses were able to stay open, our children were able to go to school in areas of course that were not on vacation.
"
Several elected officials from departments less affected by the epidemic, especially in Brittany, asked for a reduction in the curfew.
“I fully understand that certain situations require tougher decisions.
But on the other hand, certain other territories could very well experience a reduction in the curfew, ”explained Marc Le Fur, the deputy for Côtes-d'Armor.
The government, for the moment, rejects this idea.
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Containment in Mayotte, put in place at the beginning of February, is extended for another two weeks "at least".
Vaccination "continues and grows"
"The vaccination campaign is continuing and growing," said the Prime Minister, recalling that it was possible, since Thursday, with general practitioners and in companies.
The first effects are being felt: the incidence rate has been falling for two weeks in those over 80 years old and, as a result, the average age of hospitalized people is falling.
"Two-thirds of the over 75s will be vaccinated by the end of March and we will open vaccination to people over 65 at the beginning of April," guaranteed the Prime Minister.
“By the end of February, more than 4 million vaccines will have been administered to more than 3 million people.
The government anticipates that by mid-May, all people over 50 will be offered a first injection.
"No reason to delay" AstraZeneca
Alain Fischer, chairman of the Orientation and Vaccine Strategy Board, wanted to reassure people about the AstraZeneca vaccine.
“There is no reason to consider this vaccine to be second category.
It has its place in the arsenal of vaccination, ”he said.
The side effects expressed by some young people, "who have a very powerful immune system", can be attenuated "with taking a paracetamol before the vaccine and then for 48 hours".
“From the point of view of efficacy or tolerance, the data (
Editor's note: concerning AstraZeneca
) are quite satisfactory.
There is no reason to delay the application of this vaccine.
"
Treatments for Covid-19
The government had already mentioned the track of monoclonal antibodies, supposed to support the immune system to neutralize the coronavirus.
"83 hospitals have already received thousands of doses of monoclonal antibodies", explained Olivier Véran.
Others "will arrive in France at the end of March", he announced.
France has ordered tens of thousands of doses of this treatment.
Olivier Véran mentioned the interferon treatment, currently being studied in France.
"We will know in a few weeks if this treatment is effective," said the Minister of Health.
These are "new hopes" which will complete "the arsenal" against the virus, added Olivier Véran.
