Despite reservations expressed by doctors and other epidemiologists, the government wants to keep its schedule.
This Thursday evening, after four weeks of silence, Prime Minister Jean Castex, accompanied for the occasion by his ministers Olivier Véran, Gérald Darmanin and Jean-Michel Blanquer, resumed his habits with a new press point to take stock of the health situation, but also to recall the contours of a gradual deconfinement, a matter of a few weeks now.
Here's everything to remember from the evening announcements.
"The peak seems behind us"
The Prime Minister, as usual, began by taking stock of the health situation. Because the virus is still circulating strongly in the country. If the first signs of an epidemic decline seem to appear in recent days, the executive wants to be cautious. “The situation is improving in our country, we have seen a decrease in contamination for ten days. This decline concerns nearly 80% of the territories, ”explains Jean Castex. The peak of the third wave therefore seems to be behind us. “But we must remain vigilant,” he recalls. We have the confirmation that we are facing a strain that is more contagious and difficult to control. "
Above all, "the pressure remains very strong in hospitals", concedes the Prime Minister, who however notes positive signs, such as the plateau reached in intensive care, leaving him to hope "the beginning of a reflux".
Resumption in schools with a strict protocol
Monday will mark the end of a little special school holidays, which concerned all schoolchildren and students in the country.
For months the government has made continued classroom instruction one of its priorities.
This Thursday evening, Jean Castex repeated this mantra.
"As of Monday, April 26, all elementary school students will join their class," he confirms, welcoming the respect of the government promise.
Read alsoFollow all the information on the health crisis in our direct
Kindergartens and primary schools will therefore reopen their doors on Monday.
All in accordance with a strict protocol, which does not vary from that which was implemented before the start of the holidays.
This means that as soon as a case is detected in a class, it will have to close.
In the canteen, a distance of two meters between the pupils must imperatively be respected.
Half-gauge in some colleges and high schools
The recovery of middle and high school students will be done remotely at first.
On May 3, they will be able to resume face-to-face.
Half-gauge operation is maintained in high schools.
College students will resume normally, except for college students from the 15 departments most affected by the epidemic, where 4th and 3rd year students will also be subject to the half-gauge.
One self-test per week for high school students
To increase the potential for detecting positive cases in schools, the government is focusing in particular on the development of saliva tests in establishments.
"We will offer 400,000 per week on resumption, with a target of 600,000 tests per week", announces Jean Castex.
The government is also relying on the deployment of self-tests, which will be accessible in middle schools and compulsory in high schools from May 10, at the rate of one test per week.
The executive awaits the conclusions of the health authorities to offer them to younger students.
The staff will be given the equipment allowing them to carry out two self-tests per week, announced the Minister of National Education Jean-Michel Blanquer.
“These self-tests must be carried out on a regular basis”, for his part developed Olivier Véran, referring to “one to two self-tests per week”.
In the event of a positive result, confirmation by PCR is essential, he adds.
They have been available since April 12 in pharmacies and pharmacies and are covered by health insurance.
Examinations are maintained
The Minister of National Education announced this Thursday evening that the college baccalaureate and patent examinations are maintained.
BTS students will resume their lessons under the same conditions as high school students.
For them, a remedial session will be possible.
Read alsoBTS 2021: there will be a catch-up session
In higher education, competitions and exams are maintained without change and may take place in June in face-to-face.
Travel constraints lifted on May 3
So many reasons for the Prime Minister not to reveal a precise timetable for deconfinement this evening.
Jean Castex was satisfied this Thursday evening to recall the main lines unveiled the day before by Gabriel Attal in front of the press.
In addition to the reopening of schools from April 26, the executive promises to lift travel restrictions on May 3.
This will be the end of certificates and the ban on travel over 10 km.
And that, official, of this third confinement.
As for the curfew, the government has also confirmed that it will remain in force no matter what until mid-May.
It will continue to come into effect daily at 7:00 p.m. “until further notice”.
Shops, terraces and cultural places open in mid-May?
For the reopening of the terraces of bars and restaurants, of that of cultural places, the deadline in mid-May has been confirmed.
But it will probably be necessary to wait for a presidential speech to find out more, when the time comes for the good news.
"This reopening, we hope that it can take place around mid-May".
Jean Castex confirms that these reopenings will be gradual.
“What can open from the first stage can only be done under strict conditions, if necessary on a territorial basis.
"Among the list of the first establishments to be able to reopen, shops, terraces, cultural activities and sports facilities, confirms Jean Castex.
Read alsoReopening of shops, terraces and certain cultural and sporting activities "around mid-May"
Strengthening border controls
For days, the health situation in India has frankly worried the authorities.
There, the epidemic literally exploded, infecting 300,000 people every day and killing more than 2,000 people.
“For a year, we can only enter France from a country outside the European Union under very strict conditions,” recalls the Prime Minister.
The appearance of new variants in Brazil and India justifies further tightening our conditions of entry into the territory, ”he explains.
Controls on arrivals from India, Brazil, Argentina, Chile and South Africa will be stepped up.
The period of isolation will also be more closely monitored.
Gérald Darmanin announces for his part the establishment of a sanitary lock for all travelers arriving from these countries.
The reasons for coming to France from these countries will be reduced.
Only French and European citizens residing in France and in Europe will be able to make the trip.
The following rules will apply for them:
These travelers will have to present a negative PCR test of less than 36 hours or less than 72 hours coupled with a negative antigen of less than 24 hours.
Upon arrival on French soil, they will have to perform a new antigen test.
Then comes the quarantine period, for ten days.
Exits will only be authorized between 10 a.m. and noon.
The police will be responsible for monitoring compliance with this quarantine at home.
The fines will be increased in the event of non-compliance.
These measures will apply from Saturday.
Vaccination: opening hoped for in cases of obesity
While fears are strong about the arrival of new variants on the territory, the government is engaged in a race against time.
"Vaccinate, vaccinate, vaccinate" said Emmanuel Macron on March 31 during his televised address.
While the country stings on average nearly 350,000 daily, the executive intends not to slow down.
“We have one of the fastest vaccination rates in Europe,” boasts Jean Castex.
The majority of the most vulnerable people have already been vaccinated.
This progressive strategy aims to protect the most vulnerable and those most at risk of developing severe forms of the disease.
Also, Jean Castex recalled the objective of vaccinating 20 million French people in mid-May and 30 million in mid-June.
All in the hope of offering the vaccine to all adults by the end of the summer.
The Janssen vaccine can be administered in pharmacies from Saturday.
For his part, Olivier Véran announced that the vaccination of people suffering from obesity should be able to begin in mid-May, regardless of their age.
And from Monday, those living with an immunosuppressed person.
AstraZeneca: the government wants to reassure the French
To meet its objectives, the government is trying to give some credit to the AstraZeneca vaccine, while the doses are struggling to find voluntary recipients. “Only a small number of vaccines have been authorized in France on the basis of rigorous controls. This is the case of the AstraZeneca vaccine, defends the head of government. Some extremely rare forms of side effects have been observed. The authorities have drawn the consequences by limiting the administration of this vaccine to those over 55 years of age, ”he continues. For these reasons, Jean Castex calls on eligible people to be vaccinated.
Olivier Véran, wishing to illustrate the extent of the risks involved, adds that the risk of developing thrombosis is 50 times higher when crossing the Atlantic by plane than by being vaccinated. To support the point, Jean-Michel Blanquer confirmed, as we revealed, that he will be vaccinated in the coming days with the AstraZeneca vaccine.