Telework, travel, vaccines: Jean Castex defends the new restrictive measures in the National Assembly

“

The third wave is here, it hits us hard.

Before parliamentarians, Prime Minister Jean Castex this morning defended the new measures announced last night by the President of the Republic, Emmanuel Macron.

These will be debated all morning by the deputies and voted a little later, on the basis of article 50-1 of the Constitution.

In a tense context, since the oppositions announced in the morning that they would not take part in the vote, Jean Castex detailed these new measures by specifying that the executive was in search of "the

best possible balance between protection and constraint

" .

"

The British variant continues to accelerate, we too must accelerate and take reinforced measures if we want to break the epidemic spiral

", explained the Prime Minister, specifying that out of 96 metropolitan departments, 92 were currently experiencing an acceleration in viral circulation and about 20 of them had an increase in cases of more than 40%.

Telework "

systematized four days a week

"

The Prime Minister therefore specified that the health restrictions which had applied so far to 19 departments would now be extended to the entire metropolitan territory.

The curfew will therefore be maintained from 7 p.m. and telework will be "

systematized four days a week

" for all public and private jobs, when possible.

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An exception will be made for overseas territories, where the health situation is not the same and where “

specific rules

” will be put in place depending on epidemic developments.

Inter-regional travel restricted to compelling reasons

In addition, Jean Castex specified that groups of more than six people would therefore be prohibited throughout the territory and that a certificate would now be required to justify any movement within a radius greater than 10 kilometers.

“

Inter-regional travel will be restricted to compelling reasons

,” Castex also exposed, adding that they could be professional or personal, as when it comes to “

accompanying or fetching a child from a parent or a grandparent

”.

Alcohol consumption on public roads prohibited

The Prime Minister also condemned "

the irresponsibility shown by some believing themselves invincible to disease

", adding that the consumption of alcohol would henceforth be prohibited on the public highway.

"

Access to certain sites suitable for these gatherings will be prohibited,

" he said, and "

the prosecution will be asked to prosecute repeat offenders

."

Students will be able to take their exams

Jean Castex also justified the closure of schools for three weeks by the incidence rate "

which increases faster in children and adolescents than in the general population

".

"

Employees forced to keep their children at home will benefit from the partial activity device, it will suffice to report it to their employer,

" however, the Prime Minister told the parents.

And to add that the competitions taking place during the next four weeks would be "

maintained

" in higher education.

Vaccine targets are accelerating

"

The vaccination campaign is progressing and intensifying every day

", explained Jean Castex, specifying that at present, eight million people were vaccinated in France, of which 2.8 million received the two doses.

According to him, ten million people will be vaccinated in mid-April, 20 million in mid-May and 30 million in mid-June.

"

We will ensure that the European Commission faces industrialists respect the delivery schedule of doses,

" added the Prime Minister.

The maintenance of regional will be debated

The Prime Minister also confirmed that with regard to the maintenance of regional and departmental elections, a "

consultation

" of political parties represented in Parliament and associations of local elected representatives will be carried out.

"

A debate will be organized in Parliament,

" he promised.