Transparency operation. Since the acceleration of the coronavirus health crisis, which has plunged the country into an almost total and generalized confinement, there has not been a day without a member of the executive speaking. This Saturday afternoon, the head of government Édouard Philippe, the Minister of Health Olivier Véran, and the Director General of Health Jérôme Salomon, held a joint press conference to make " a comprehensive update on the strategy of France against Covid-19 ”. The opportunity to respond to questions posed by the French, medical controversies, and opposition critics.
LIVE - Coronavirus: Édouard Philippe and Olivier Véran talk about France's strategy
● The first 15 days of April will be "even more difficult"
While " almost half of humanity " is currently confined, which is " literally unheard of ", Edouard Philippe said that " the first 15 days of April will be difficult ". " Even more difficult than the past 15 days ," he warned.
● After the crisis, the executive “will learn lessons”, Philippe “will answer” questions
Édouard Philippe assures that he " does not seek to justify the action of the government " for the moment. “ When the time comes, we will learn from the crisis. The Prime Minister that I am will answer all questions. I'm not one of those who shirk their responsibilities, "he said. And to castigate those who " give lessons and make ex post criticisms ": " I leave them this luxury ".
● Mortality in nursing homes will be calculated "at the very beginning of next week"
While only hospital deaths have so far been included in the daily census of coronavirus victims, Professor Jérôme Salomon announced that the " mortality monitoring device " would evolve. Thus, a count in the EHPAD has been set up " during this weekend ", and it " will give results at the very beginning of next week ". In addition, " the excess mortality recorded by INSEE thanks to town hall and civil status data " will be the subject of a " weekly publication ". " This is how we begin to give you figures relating to a departmental, regional and national excess mortality ".
● "We want to reach the goal of 14,000 to 14,500" intensive care beds
Recalling that " the initial capacity of France " was 5000 resuscitation beds, Olivier Véran indicated that it had, in the first instance, been " increased to 10,000 ". " We wish to reach the objective of 14,000 to 14,500, " continued the Minister of Health, according to which " this constitutes a massive increase in our capacities ". This will result in human issues, but also in material issues, particularly in terms of respirators.
● 50 patients transferred from the Grand Est region to other hospitals “this weekend”
Believing that we must " be able to transfer serious patients " in order to unclog the most saturated areas, Olivier Véran announced that " 50 patients will be transferred again from the Grand Est region to other French hospitals this weekend " . For this, "a health train will allow in particular to transfer twenty patients from the Nancy hospital ".
● France has ordered “over a billion” masks
While " we produce 8 million masks per week " but " we (cons) cons 40 million " per week, Olivier Véran insisted on the fact that " our reserves are not infinite ". This is why " 250 million masks were ordered (last week) from China " and are currently being manufactured. Since then, French orders have amounted to " over a billion " masks. A “ narrow and intensive air bridge has been set up with China to (facilitate) entry into the territory ”. While waiting to receive this material, " 36 million masks were destocked (by the State) this week and sent throughout the territory ", intended in particular for " carers and the most fragile people ".
● Nearly 1 million reusable “alternative masks” will be produced in April
To avoid aggravating the shortage of surgical masks or FFP2 masks, Édouard Philippe announced that he had instructed the Secretary of State for the Economy and Finance, Agnès Pannier-Runacher, to identify companies capable of producing " alternative category 3 or 4 masks ". " Some can be reused " because they will be " washable at least 5 times, " he said. To date, " 24 producers are qualified " for this mission, which will allow production of " nearly 1 million " of these masks to be made in April.
● 12,000 daily PCR tests today, 30,000 within a week, 50,000 at the end of April
Since the start of the crisis, “our strategy has evolved” in terms of testing. We thus passed “ from 5000 (PCR tests) last week to 12,000 on a day like today, and to 20,000, 25,000, then 30,000 within a big week ”. Finally, we will be at “ 50,000 per day by the end of April, thanks to the installation of several machines throughout the territory ”. " We are constantly increasing our testing capacities to reach massive capacity ," said Olivier Véran.
● “5 million rapid tests” ordered, target of 30,000 per day in April
Aware that " political time is not necessarily scientific time ", Olivier Véran announced that " France has already ordered 5 million rapid tests, which will arrive soon ". " These rapid tests will be added to the PCR tests ", which will allow " increased screening capacity during the deconfinement period ". Thus, 30,000 additional tests will be performed each day in April, then 60,000 additional tests each day in May, and more than 100,000 additional tests each day in June.
● “Patience and hope” in the face of “far too insufficient” studies on chloroquine
While he " meets regularly " with Professor Didier Raoult, who urges the State to generalize the use of chloroquine to treat the coronavirus, Olivier Véran assured that he " hears impatience, hears remarks and hears encouragement ”. However, the Minister of Health recalled that the executive "bases all its decisions on the recommendations of learned societies", yet studies on chloroquine are "far too insufficient to take the risk" of being put into circulation. "I invite everyone to be patient and hopeful," proclaimed the government. " If it turns out that a treatment is effective, we will immediately do everything possible to provide it to all French people, " concluded Olivier Véran.
During this press conference, the latest death toll was released: 2,314 people have died in hospital in France from the virus since the end of January, an increase of 319 in the last 24 hours.
