The calm before the storm?
While the epidemic is soaring in a large part of the country, Emmanuel Macron finds himself at the foot of the wall: although convinced of having made the right choices since the beginning of the year, he does not exclude, if the situation is deteriorates "in the coming days and weeks", "new measures to be taken, all together" and "without taboos".
This is what he released Thursday evening on the sidelines of the European Council.
Without taboo ?
The word did not fail to fuel fears of a strict seal.
"This means that you have to be pragmatic in the face of this variant which more or less is a new form of epidemic", slips the entourage of the Head of State.
VIDEO. Emmanuel Macron: "In the coming weeks, we will have new measures to take"
"If it worsens and becomes homogeneous throughout the territory, we must not rule out the idea of a spring 2020 type confinement", advances a source in high places.
An adviser to the executive sees the dark scenario: “Next Wednesday (
Editor's note: March 31
), on television, Emmanuel Macron could announce the closure of schools, causing the massive shift of the French into teleworking.
Everything will actually depend on the results of the beginning of the week.
"
It is indeed necessary
wait ten days to measure the health effects of the strategy "slow down without locking up" unveiled by the government on March 18 for 21 million French people.
"We are in a middle ground, we are waiting," comments another, more optimistic advisor.
No one believed in the 6pm curfew and it saved us time.
"
Reinforced controls
In the wake of the presidential warning, the government has deployed on the ground to enforce the plan now in force in 19 departments.
“This Friday, there are more than 90,000 police and gendarmes mobilized on tolls, in stations and airports to control, said Friday the Minister of the Interior, Gerald Darmanin, traveling to Libourne (Gironde).
They will do a lot of pedagogy and they will verbalize the recalcitrant.
The goal is to contain the outbreak.
After last weekend, marked by the mess on the travel certificate, the executive shows the muscles.
Jean Castex canceled a trip to the Channel to urge the prefects to "control the measures implemented", during a videoconference from Matignon.
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The Ministry of Labor has asked the Labor Inspectorate to step up actions in the field.
This Thursday, several inspectors went to the business district of La Défense, in Paris, for a punch operation.
The specter of school closures
In Troyes (Aube), capital of one of the three new departments added to the list of restricted territories, the government spokesperson, Gabriel Attal, met the mayor François Baroin, quite upset against the delays of the vaccination campaign.
The youngest of the government assured that "some, because of their profession, will have to know a targeted vaccination campaign", once the vulnerable populations are protected.
Police officers and teachers should be able to benefit from doses from the second half of April.
PODCAST. Is the vaccination campaign in France a failure?
For his part, Jean-Michel Blanquer announced a tightening of the protocol in schools: now, a class will be closed based on a proven case of Covid - against three previously.
“Education remains our priority, young people need the school system,” he pleaded.
The Minister of National Education has been scrapping for months against the closure of schools.
But in the face of mounting pressure, will he still be listened to?
Answer Wednesday March 31, on the occasion of the 55th Defense Council on the Covid.
