Maria Laura Avignolo
08/19/2020 - 18:06
- Clarín.com
- World
When the coronavirus epidemic grows in France, President Emmanuel Macron spoke up and said that "zero risk never exists." Since his vacation at the Brégancon fort, on the Côte d'Azur, he gave an interview to Paris Match magazine to explain that in the face of rising pollution, "the country cannot be stopped."
“The country cannot be stopped because the collateral damage of the confinement is considerable. Zero risk never exists in a society. We must respond to this anxiety without falling into the doctrine of zero risk, "the French president told Paris Match .
Macron declared that he understood "a legitimate anxiety, linked to the virus." And he pointed out: "We are facing a totally new epidemic phenomenon."
For him, it must be based on health policy, which is "to test, search, isolate, organize emergencies, prevent, generalize the use of masks for everyone if necessary" and that "must allow containing the epidemic."
Chinstraps will be mandatory in offices and other places in France from 1 September. A way to prevent the coronavirus and revive the economy.
Only people who work alone in their office are not going to be forced to use it, according to the rules of the Minister of Employment, Elizabeth Borne.
But its use will be mandatory in shared offices and open office spaces, as well as in meeting rooms, corridors, entrances and elevators.
Chinstraps are mandatory on the streets of Paris, to avoid further infections of coronavirus. Photo: AP
"We must systematically use masks in all closed places and shared work spaces," said the minister.
All these measures are adopted before the return of the people from the European holidays and the beginning of the classes in September in France.
France has increased its cases of contagion in the last month, to the point of imposing the mandatory use of masks in public places in Paris, Marseille, Lille, Toulouse, Bordeaux and other cities in different areas and fines of 135 euros. But the death toll in intensive care has risen very little.
Until now, face masks were mandatory in public transport and shared public spaces, such as businesses and government offices. Employers can decide the rules in their own companies.
But with the holiday over, the government has taken the advice of its scientific advisers. The Minister of Employment said that there is certainty that "the virus is not transmitted by colds and coughs but by small particles of an infected person breathing."
Policemen on horseback, with chinstraps in the street of Paris, this Wednesday. Photo: AP
The French government recommends companies to keep their employees working remotely as much as possible so as not to overload transportation and the workplace. Some companies have established that their staff must wear masks.
Cannes became the first city on the Côte d'Azur where the authorities imposed the use of chinstraps in all internal places. This includes building entrances, corridors, and apartment elevators.
The council admitted that cases had risen to 50 infections per 100,000 residents this week. Paris has achieved the level of 50. The average in France is 17.4 cases per 100,000 inhabitants.
Argentines arriving in France must bring a Covid-19 test or agree to do it at the airport they arrive at if they want to enter the country, according to a decree from the French government.
Paris, correspondent
CB
