From Matignon, Prime Minister Jean Castex gave a live interview to BFM TV journalists Bruno Jeudy and Maxime Switek.
A year after the first confinement, he tried to reassure about the vaccination campaign, in particular with AstraZeneca, and hinted that a weekend confinement in Île-de-France was possible.
Here's what to remember.
A reconfinement of Île-de-France: a hypothesis on the table
It was the eagerly awaited subject which has concerned nearly 12 million Ile-de-France residents for several days.
Jean Castex suggested that confinement, especially on weekends, could intervene in the capital region.
However, we will have to wait for the outcome of the health defense council on Wednesday morning.
He considered that "the data is gathered" in the region for a re-containment.
And to add: “measures of the type of those which are already applied in other territories are on the table.
It is a hypothesis.
It must be done in a fair way, adapted to this region.
The time has come to consider arrangements for the Ile-de-France region ”.
The Prime Minister explains that “the situation is difficult because we do not yet have all the effects of vaccination and we have to deal with mutations.
We see the epidemic picking up steam.
We know the virtues of confinement but also its consequences.
These are measures that must be taken when all other resources have been exhausted, ”he recalled from Matignon, where he lives with his family.
He will get vaccinated with AstraZeneca to lead by example
Suspended since Monday evening by the President of the Republic, Emmanuel Macron, the AstraZeneca vaccine injections will resume after "the green light from the European Medicines Agency, which I very much hope [...] I think that the opinion of the European Medicines Agency will be positive.
If not, it would be very bad news, ”he ventured to predict.
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Before announcing that he had decided to change when the time came for his vaccination.
"I wanted to get vaccinated when my turn comes, but given what is happening (the French mistrust of the AstraZeneca product, Editor's note), I said to myself that it would be wise for me to get vaccinated very quickly to show all my fellow citizens that it is safe to go there ”.
Why not increase hospital capacity?
Asked about the lack of means of hospitals and resuscitation services in particular, the Prime Minister explained why the hospital capacity could not increase.
“The most important variable in the management of the crisis is the capacities of the hospitals.
Everyone knows that to train resuscitators or specialized nurses, it takes several years.
We cannot recruit in a few months, ”he replied to the two journalists.
"No regrets" for not having re-defined on January 29
The head of government assured "not to have any regrets not having announced confinement on January 29".
According to him, "the conditions were, at that time, not met".
Jean Castex then decided on restrictions for giant supermarkets and borders.
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Jean Castex, wished to recall that “the scientific forecasts of that time did not prove to be exact.
We were around 20,000 contaminations per day.
While for the October lockdown, we were at 50,000 a day.
Foreign experiences lead us to be cautious.
Containment should not be used as a preventive measure, ”he believes.