Two bikers from the gendarmerie control a person near the station while the municipal police ensures that safety rules are respected on the market. In Crépy-en-Valois, perhaps more than elsewhere, the containment decreed by the government to slow the spread of Covid-19 is taken seriously.
In this city of 15,500 inhabitants, restrictive measures were put in place a month ago already, 15 days before the rest of France. Because it is here that the first French victim of the virus was identified. The balance sheet has since increased. This Tuesday evening, the hospital announced 24 deaths in its medical structure and in its three nursing homes since February 26.
26 people still have symptoms in hospital
Among them, "10 people had tested positive" and "14 were not tested but had symptoms," explains Marie-Cécile Darmois, the director. The latter specifies that “26 people are still showing symptoms” and that five are still “hospitalized outside”.
The structure, which has a total of 239 places, had taken, as of February 26, strong measures to protect residents and patients: confinement and therefore meals in the room, suspension of admissions and admissions, suspension of visits, establishment of videoconferences for that everyone keeps a bond with their loved ones…
Despite this, Crépy was at the heart of the turmoil. The number of deaths within the hospital and Ephad, if it is heavy to hear, therefore does not surprise the inhabitants. "They are fragile people so from the moment the virus entered these establishments, it could not be otherwise," sighs one of them.
Identified as the first cluster in France
Met this Wednesday morning, Hélène, she prefers to ignore all this bad news to keep morale. “There is a lot of information related to Covid-19 throughout the day. I avoid spending too much time on it, because it's scary! "
Crépy-en-Valois, first town affected by coronavirus
Especially since in Crépy-en-Valois, psychosis set in very quickly. Identified as the first cluster in France, the Cité de l'archerie was forced to apply precautionary and isolation measures. Schools were closed on March 2 and rallies were banned a few days earlier. Aquatic center, cinema, playground… were closed.
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An unprecedented situation that quickly caught the attention of the cameras. The mayor (SE) Bruno Fortier, screened positive for Covid-19, has chained television appearances and radio interviews. "There was a day where every eight minutes I had a call from journalists," recalls the elected official. I got fed up and stopped responding. "
"We are no longer saving our businesses"
"It is true that to have been singled out, like that, it was hard," says a mother. But the fact that we were confined earlier than the others probably saved us. An "optimism" that not everyone shares.
The traders, in fact, make a much more alarming discourse. According to Loïck Lebas, the president of the traders' association, "the stigmatization of the city has heightened the fear of people" who preferred to desert public places.
“Before the confinement, certain businesses saw their turnover drop by 90%. We tried to find solutions but we mostly suffered, he admits. Lifting the psychosis was impossible… ”
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With this sad advance over other French companies, some traders are caught by the throat. An online kitty was therefore launched on the Leetchi site. "We are no longer saving our businesses but being in solidarity with those who are trying to survive," adds Loïck Lebas. Some even don't have enough to eat! "
"To revive our economy, we will have to set up an action and communication plan to give a positive image of Crépy, thinks Elise Herbette, deputy director of the tourist office. Here, we were hit a fortnight before the others. Restaurants and hotels were quickly emptied. "
"We can't wait for this to end"
In the meantime, the city is trying to maintain the various public services. Cypré buses still crisscross the city streets but at a lower frequency. School registrations are processed remotely, as are requests for civil status documents.
The Géresme and Sainte-Agathe parks also remain open to the public. To give the Crépynois a “balm in the heart”, the tourist office and other actors in the city are increasing positive communications on social networks: games, riddles, DIY ideas to pass the time. An appreciated initiative. Despite this, "we can't wait for this to end," slips a Crépynoise.
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