Massive increase in the number of infected and deceased people, hospitals out of breath, longer confinements, military intervention and economic support: in a week, France saw the beginnings of the coronavirus "wave" announced by Edouard Philippe arrive.
2 times more people infected and 4 times more dead
The number of people infected with the virus has doubled and there are four times more deaths. On Saturday March 21, France had 14,459 confirmed cases and 562 deaths. A week later, 32,964 people were infected and 1995 died. The Ehpad are at the heart of concerns and fear a very high mortality rate.
Read also: "It's the blackout": the great anguish of the families of Ehpad residents
Hospitals on a drip
Hospitals are alerting to the rapid saturation of their resuscitation services. They lack staff but also equipment. The Grand-Est, being seriously affected since the beginning of the epidemic, began to evacuate patients in Brittany and Aquitaine. Île-de-France increased its number of beds in 2000 to " be higher than this wave" , told RTL Aurélien Rousseau, head of ARS Île-de-France. Emmanuel Macron committed to implementing a "massive investment and upgrading plan" for hospitals during his speech Wednesday, March 25 in Mulhouse.
Read also: In Beauvais, a hospital on the front line facing the Covid-19 epidemic
The army called in reinforcement
In the "war" against the coronavirus, the President of the Republic launched Operation Resilience on Wednesday, which mobilizes the armed forces to help the population. The soldiers also provide medical aid: a field hospital has been set up in Mulhouse and patients from the Grand-Est and Corsica have been transported by an Air Force medical aircraft and a military helicopter.
Chloroquine treatment possible
After a lively debate around this antimalarial and Professor Didier Raoult who recommended treatment of all Covid-19 patients with chloroquine, the government authorized its use on Friday March 27 by a decree. The molecule can only be prescribed in the hospital, on strict advice from doctors and for severe cases.
Read also: On Facebook, Professor Raoult catalyzes the hopes and fears of confined French people
Read also: Pharmaceutical giants ready to produce chloroquine in large quantities
Massive arrival of masks
First bulwark against the coronavirus, the masks are missing from the healthcare professional but also from the cashiers, delivery people and all those who are in the field. On March 21, the Minister of Health, Olivier Véran, committed to delivering 250 million masks within a few weeks. An air bridge between China and France is being set up to transport 74 million FFP2s. But several bugs were observed during the delivery, especially in pharmacies.
Read also: Borders, masks, tests: has the "pandemic" plan really been applied?
Tension rises in prisons
50 staff members and 21 detainees are contaminated and the death of a supervisor suspected of being sick is being verified. Overcrowding, as well as visiting restrictions and confinement measures, resulted in considerable tension. Faced with concern, the Minister of Justice Nicole Belloubet has promised the distribution of 116,000 masks for staff. The only death among the detainees to date is that of a 74-year-old man, imprisoned in Fresnes (Val-de-Marne) on March 8. He died on March 16.
Read also: Prisons: the fight of staff against the coronavirus
Containment extended
On Friday March 27, Prime Minister Edouard Philippe announced an extension of the confinement by two weeks. Travel by French people is therefore prohibited - with exceptions - until April 15. The outings are more supervised. For example, they are limited to 1 kilometer from their home and for 1 hour maximum.
On Tuesday, the scientific council issued an opinion recommending a six-week long confinement.
Read also: Containment takes hold over time, Macron surrounds himself with experts
Nearly 4 million police checks
Monday March 23, the Prime Minister announced on TF1 "toughen the rules" of confinement and " toughen the sanctions for those who do not respect it" . Since Tuesday, March 17, day 1 of confinement in France, 3.7 million police checks have been carried out and 225,000 reports have been drawn up by the police, according to the Ministry of the Interior. The Unsa Police and Alliance, the main police unions, called on Wednesday and Friday the agents to suspend controls if they were not sufficiently protected.
Read also: Coronavirus: the sanctions reinforced for non-compliance with confinement
The state of health emergency established by law
On Wednesday March 25, the government presented 25 ordinances, a record since 1958, to complete the state of health emergency voted by Parliament on Sunday March 22. A "real war economy" to "limit as much as possible the serious economic and social damage", according to the Prime Minister. Economic aid with a solidarity fund for businesses, relaxation of labor law, widening of partial unemployment ...
Read also: Coronavirus: 10 questions that companies and employees are asking themselves after the new prescriptions
Closing of open markets
The Prime Minister announced on Monday March 23 that outdoor markets will be closed to prevent the spread of the virus. To support farmers, a call for volunteers was made by the Ministry of Health. 40,000 volunteers quickly mobilized. Rungis also decided to deliver fruits and vegetables to individuals to save agriculture.
Read also: Market gardeners, fishmongers and cheese makers are looking for solutions after the markets close
Economy still at half mast
Firms at a standstill, generalized partial unemployment, CAC 40 which plummets a little more each day, the weather is gloomy for the economy. Thursday, March 26, INSEE has exceptionally published a study that announces a 35% drop in French economic activity this week compared to a traditional week. It also forecasts a 12 point impact on the quarter's GDP.
Read also: Because of the Covid-19, the French economy is growing at two-thirds of its capacity
The initiatives are multiplying
Many French people want to participate and help. A pool of volunteers has thus been created with the establishment of platforms to gather initiatives and needs. Local solidarity is also reinforced within the family and between neighbors.
Read also: Robert Redeker: "The heroism of the humble"
