The day will be full on Thursday, January 14 for Jean Castex: an express return trip to Nancy in the morning to visit a call center to make an appointment for vaccination, return to Matignon at midday, followed by 'final arbitration meetings on new measures against Covid-19, before a press conference at the end of the day for new announcements eagerly awaited by the French.
The Prime Minister may try to exist outside of the health crisis, "the bandwidth remains totally saturated", summarizes his entourage.
If the hypothesis of an extension of the curfew to 6 p.m. seems more and more obvious to counter the spread of the virus, and especially its British variant, other scenarios still remained on the executive's table Wednesday evening .
A few hours earlier, on the occasion of a new health defense council, Emmanuel Macron reminded his people of the importance of the moment, "precise choices that must be made to overcome the health obstacle which continues to arise. in front of us ”, according to comments reported by a participant.
The government is walking on eggshells
"The virus will continue to weigh heavily in the coming weeks", he also warned a little later in the day, in front of bakers, pastry chefs and the best workers in France that he received at the Elysee for the traditional galette des rois.
“We feared the negative effects of Christmas and New Year's Day.
But according to the first reports, it seems that the virus did not spread further on these occasions.
On the other hand, what we had not necessarily anticipated is, of course, the English variant, ”blows an advisor.
Result, it is a Prime Minister who will walk on eggshells Thursday evening, when speaking at a press conference.
For the occasion, he will be accompanied by a slew of ministers, no less than five: Jean-Michel Blanquer (National Education), Frédérique Vidal (Higher Education), Roselyne Bachelot (Culture), Bruno Le Maire (Economy) and, of course, Olivier Véran for health.
"Everyone will have to take the floor to announce specific measures in their sectors," we confide.
According to our information, the gauge for public reception in shops could in particular be revised downwards.
Limit brewing in colleges
On the education side, the outright closure of schools is still not the preferred hypothesis.
On the other hand, a stricter protocol in the canteens, "a place a priori dangerous", judged Tuesday in the Parisian, Bertrand Maury, researcher at the CNRS, is now on the table.
In question: several dozen teenagers falling off the mask in an enclosed place.
Still, as it stands, "difficult to toughen the measures already in place in school canteens," said Philippe Vincent, principal and delegate SNPDEN, a union of heads of establishments, with reference to services by level and rules of canteen ventilation in force.
Still on the school environment, Jean Castex and Jean-Michel Blanquer could also announce the establishment of a hybrid operation in college, on the model of that installed in 70% of high schools.
It would concern the 4th and 3rd classes, which would be required to come only in the morning and / or afternoon, or every other day.
Enough to limit the mixing in colleges, at a time when the positivity rate is skyrocketing among those under 18.
But also, in fact, reduce the number of half-boarders.
As for Frédérique Vidal, she could also make announcements about students, particularly on the issue of discomfort.
The face-to-face return to universities could take place at the end of the winter holidays, between February 22 and March 8, depending on the area - which is recommended by Jean-François Delfraissy, president of the scientific council.
A blow: the government rather counted on a return, at least on half-gauges… as of January 20.
