It is a decisive indicator.
The incidence rate in France fell below 400 cases per 100,000 inhabitants in all departments, according to data released Tuesday by the health authorities.
This threshold is one of the criteria set by Emmanuel Macron to consider the reopening of terraces, shops, cultural places ...
Two departments were still under surveillance, Seine-Saint-Denis and Val-de-Marne.
On Tuesday, in the first, the incidence rate had risen to 389.8 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, in the second, it stood at 390.8.
Currently, hospital data show a slow decline: the number of patients in intensive care has dropped by 380 in one week.
However, it remained high (5581 Saturday).
The different stages of the deconfinement schedule, scheduled for June 30 with the end of the curfew, are suspended from the indicators of the progress of the virus.
Expected on May 19, the postponement of the curfew to 9 p.m. will be accompanied by the reopening of the terraces of bars and restaurants, and of places of culture.
Emmanuel Macron intends, however, after these relaxations, if necessary, "to activate emergency health brakes in the territories where the virus would circulate too much", with these criteria: more than 400 infections per 100,000 inhabitants, a "very brutal" increase in this rate and "a threat of saturation of intensive care services".
