Coronavirus: what to know this Thursday, May 14

Good evening,

On this 4th day of deconfinement, the Prime Minister assured that the French will be able to leave this summer while presenting a massive support plan for the tourism sector. The Sanofi laboratory is trying to put an end to the controversy over the availability of its vaccine in France, while exhausted intensive care services are facing the arrival of patients who are late in providing treatment. The unions are trying to widen the recognition of Covid-19 as an occupational disease . On the way to school too, controversies accumulate.

Good reading,

Camille Lestienne, journalist at Le Figaro

1. Where is the epidemic at?

France recorded 351 new deaths in 24 hours due to the coronavirus epidemic, according to the latest assessment from the Directorate General of Health. The total death toll is 27,425 dead since March 1, 17,224 people died in hospitals and 10,201 in social and medico-social establishments, mainly nursing homes. 20,463 people are still hospitalized for a Covid-19 infection, 608 fewer than on Wednesday and 2,299 patients are in intensive care with a negative balance of 129. There have been a total of 141,356 cases of contamination with the new coronavirus in the country, or 622 more than Wednesday.

History of the epidemic in the 80 most affected countries. By Marie Coussin and Nicolas Mondon for Fig Data

Since the start of the epidemic, 97,844 people have been hospitalized, including more than 17,000 in intensive care. 59,605 people returned home cured.

Read also: Follow the evolution of the epidemic, department by department

2. What happened today

A "Marshall Plan" for tourism. With a cost of 18 billion euros for public finances, the plan announced this morning by the Prime Minister is " massive, unprecedented and necessary ". Solidarity funds, guaranteed loans, exemption from charges should enable the tourism sector to keep its head above water. And to welcome the French authorized to go on vacation in July and August " in metropolitan France or in the overseas departments ", if the epidemic does not start again. The mayor of Cannes David Lisnard, if he approves the financial commitment of the state, regrets the vagueness maintained around health rules: " I understand this caution but we need scenarios with sanitary rules because reopenings are essential. This would have the advantage of creating motivation. The French, themselves, seem to bet on the purchase of a house in the countryside. The real estate service is investigating the effect of coronavirus on the price of second homes.

Read also: The population favorable to the reopening of beaches, parks and gardens

Sanofi is trying to put an end to the controversy over its vaccine. After declaring to reserve the first vaccines available in the United States, because of their commitment, the Sanofi laboratory back-pedaled before the indignation of the French government. Too late, however, to avoid the outcry from the political class. According to the European Medicines Agency, a vaccine against the Covid-19 disease could be ready within a year in an " optimistic " scenario while the WHO declared that the virus could "never disappear" and become a disease with which humanity will have to learn to live. Bad news for the staff of the intensive care services of the Grand Est and the Ile-de-France, now exhausted. With the arrival of non-Covid patients who are late for treatment, " the teams, who have not counted their hours since the beginning of March, are exhausted ", notes Cécile Thibert of the Sciences department.

Labor law tested by the crisis. Medef is not immune to contradictions, raises our economic journalist Marc Landré. While " hammering that the activity must absolutely start again ", the employers' union militates however for the maintenance of partial unemployment until the summer. If the government turns a deaf ear, it plans on the other hand to soften for six months from the end of the state of health emergency the use of fixed-term contracts and temporary contracts, often variable in time adjustment of crisis. “ If these contracts are the first to disappear during periods of recession, they are also the first to benefit from recovery movements. It is the counterpart of their flexibility ”explains an economist. As for the unions, they are mobilizing for the recognition of Covid-19 as an occupational disease. Already promised to caregivers, it would not be granted to other public agents and employees in the private sector such as cleaning staff, employees in the funeral sector, paramedics or life assistants.

Read also: Too divisive, the pension reform postponed sine die

Teaching the child that their little friend is a threat can be anxiety-provoking, very misunderstood, and can sometimes lead to a loss of confidence.

The way to school paved with controversy. While a second wave of schoolchildren resumed their way to school this morning, particularly in Île-de-France, certain sanitary measures of physical distancing are controversial. Images of isolated children in these chalk squares outraged social networks. " Teaching the child that their little friend is a threat can be anxiety-provoking, very misunderstood and can sometimes lead to a loss of confidence " underlines a child psychiatrist who considers it essential to let the children play and have fun together. In the Parisian school Françoise-Dorléac classified in REP +, " barely 12% of parents were asking for a return to school, despite often very precarious living conditions ", reports Marie-Estelle Pech. The teachers however tried to bring back the dropout children with success is very relative. For his part, our columnist Luc Ferry is worried about the break in equality induced by a too partial resumption of elementary school. He recommends keeping lycées and colleges closed from the fourth, in order to use immediately " the premises of these empty establishments to accommodate a maximum of schoolchildren in satisfactory conditions of social distancing and hygiene ".

3. Hike, discover, visit ...

Find your favorite record store. More discreetly than others, the record stores also reopened on May 11. " And if no television camera was present and that no minister deigned to make the trip , notes our music columnist Olivier Nuc, the whole chain of independent French record stores was breathing a big blow on this landmark date ." The still weakened profession is preparing for Disquaire Day, which is divided this year into four sessions, and hopes for a good recovery. " At a time when the live environment is disaster , insists our journalist, the independent record store appears as a safe haven that must be taken care of. "

Read also: Moths, short circuit culture

Hiking well equipped. It is not enough to know how to run to run well. First you have to get the right set. Before rediscovering the joys of running, hiking or cycling, Le Figaro offers advice on making the right choices. Shoes, walking stick, technical clothing, nothing should be left to chance. The must? " Trousers with detachable legs, which can easily be transformed into shorts if it's hot," says the general manager of Le Vieux Campeur. But it's up to you…

Read also: Should you wear a mask when running or for any other outdoor sport?

Discover the press archives. The National Library of France (BnF) did not hesitate to put in the hands of nine videographers its treasures, extracted from press archives. On the YouTube channel of RetroNews, the BnF press site, pastilles of a few minutes are produced each week " in fields as varied as science, literature, genre, games, politics or gastronomy ". Their mission: "to make this" mass of documents ", drawn from three centuries of journalism, accessible to the greatest number ". On the program already, exotic cuisine, criminal women, life on Mars ...

Read also: Discover Your Name, the anime that made the star of Ghibli studios fade

Virtual visit to a museum . In partnership with Facebook France and the CLIC.France network, Le Figaro offers you every day, Monday to Friday, at 6 p.m., a virtual visit to a museum, castle or other heritage place in the region. In the company of the curator, and for 30 minutes, discover the riches of cultural places that are still closed. Yesterday, the Palais des Beaux-Arts in Lille, today the MAMC +, the museum of modern art in Saint-Etienne with some key works and the temporary exhibition dedicated to the arte povera. Tomorrow the Angers museum, and many more next week. After broadcasting, you can find the videos on museums' websites or Facebook pages.

Read also: Agen: the Museum of Fine Arts reopens with a new Gaul

4. Photo of the day

Marking on the ground or not, children rediscover the joys of the playground in a Parisian school. FRANCK FIFE / AFP

5. Deconfinement, instructions for use

The deconfinement does not mark the return to the life of before. It is done gradually and differentiated according to the red or green areas. Here are some rules to remember.

• The movements are allowed a limit of 100 km around the home. Beyond that, a certificate - available here - is required to justify a compelling, family or professional reason. The borders are closed until June 15.
• In public transport , the mask is compulsory and its absence liable to a fine of 135 euros. In Île-de-France, an employer certificate is required during peak hours. It can be downloaded here.
• The gatherings are limited to 10 people.
• Parks and gardens are once again open in green areas only . Forests, on the other hand, are accessible everywhere. The beaches are in principle closed unless the prefect decides otherwise.
• The practice of individual sport is again authorized outdoors, respecting the limit of 10 participants.
• Places of worship are open, but religious ceremonies cannot resume until the end of May or the beginning of June.

Find more details in our articles:

Read also: These new rules which will be imposed on the French on Monday

Read also: Deconfinement: what it will be allowed or not to do on May 11

6. The reflexes to adopt

A few simple steps can limit the spread of the virus. Here they are :

• Wash your hands every hour.
• Cough or sneeze into the crease of his elbow.
• Use disposable tissues.
• Avoid kissing or shaking hands.
• Wear a mask when you are sick.
• Limit your movements as much as possible.

Covid-19 is spread by saliva through close contact with an infected person, especially when the person coughs or sneezes. The virus also remains viable for a few hours on different surfaces.

Read also: Coronavirus: highly contagious patients in the first days of infection

The disease manifests with several symptoms. In 9 out of 10 cases, this results in a fever below 39 ° C. According to the World Health Organization, this fever is most often accompanied by a state of fatigue , signs of shortness of breath and a dry cough .

7. What to do in case of symptoms?

The most important thing now is to get tested. According to the recommendations of the Ministry of Health, you should, if you have symptoms, stay at home and contact your doctor who will order a test. While waiting for the result, you must isolate yourself, wear a mask and list the people you may have contaminated.

Read also: From the isolation test to the tracing of contact cases, the patient's journey from Covid

If the test is positive, Health Insurance will contact people who may be infected. You must then remain isolated for at least 8 days, taking care not to contaminate your loved ones. Watch your health. If you have a fever, take paracetamol. Possibly plan a follow-up teleconsultation with your doctor.

If you feel difficulty breathing , call 15.

If the test is negative, contact your doctor and follow their instructions.

See you tomorrow.