Caution remains in order this summer.
Invited this Thursday at the microphone of France Inter, government spokesman Gabriel Attal returned to the worrying health situation of the country, speaking once again of "fourth wave".
“We are in a fourth wave, which does not look like the previous ones because the slope is much steeper.
The increase in the incidence rate and the number of cases is happening much more quickly, ”he warns.
In addition, the spokesperson recalled that France had "yesterday crossed the double of the alert threshold", or 100 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, he said, judging that it was necessary to be "vigilant all the time. 'summer ".
And to insist: "The barrier gestures are not winter gestures, they must be maintained all summer".
A target of 50 million first injections at the end of August
To counter this epidemic outbreak, the “main lever” remains the acceleration of the vaccination campaign.
In the aftermath of Jean Castex's announcements, the government spokesperson thus maintained the objective set by the government of 50 million first-time vaccines by the end of August and that of 4 million first injunctions for next week.
"If you are vaccinated, you are 12 times less likely to be infected and transmit the virus," insisted Gabriel Attal.
Read alsoCovid-19: is the target of 50 million first-time vaccinated at the end of August tenable?
Compulsory vaccination "not ruled out"
Considering vaccination as the major means to counter this new resumption of the virus, Gabriel Attal affirmed that the government intends - for the moment - to continue the incentive measures. "Through conviction, exchange, dialogue and education, we manage to do a lot," he says, adding that "the president does not rule out compulsory vaccination in the long term, even if we can still convince the French who hesitate ”.
Faced with those who would refuse vaccination, especially among the youngest, he opposes his arguments.
“There is less risk [in them] of contracting a serious form, but there is the risk of having a long Covid, with extreme fatigue.
And the more the virus continues to circulate, the more it can mutate ”and thus perhaps affect younger people more than they do today, forcing them to more critical forms of the disease.
Possible braking measures
Another subject raised, that of the lifting of restrictions initiated last June, despite a "caution" at the top of the State.
“We have always been clear on the fact that we should not grill any fire and be very careful,” he notes.
. @ GabrielAttal on the lifting of restrictions in June: "We have always been clear on the fact that you should not burn any fire and be very careful" # le69Inter pic.twitter.com/kaOAJbKeBf
- France Inter (@franceinter) July 22, 2021
As mentioned yesterday by the Prime Minister, possible braking measures could be taken during the summer by the prefects, depending on the health situation of the departments.
As a reminder, several prefectures such as that of Haute-Corse and Pyrénées-Orientales, have decided to make the wearing of a mask compulsory once again outside.
Despite the progression of the variant on the territory,
"
there was no question of a localized curfew in one or more departments during the Sanitary Defense Council yesterday with the President of the Republic", insisted Gabriel Attal.
Good indicators on the French economy
Finally, the government spokesperson wanted to reassure
on the figures of the French economy, mired in the health crisis: “The recovery has begun.
We have good indicators on the French economy, we had a record for first hiring in our country, with 2.2 million ”.
The number of declarations of hiring out of temporary work of more than one month increased by 16.9% in the second quarter, reaching a “historic peak”, according to Urssaf.
Although underway, the recovery remains fragile: “the recovery has a threat, that of the Delta variant. And she has an ally, it's the vaccine. When we get vaccinated, we also give ourselves a chance to be able to revive our economy, ”concluded Gabriel Attal, as a final appeal to those who recalcitrate the vaccine.
