Coronavirus: what you need to know this Friday, June 19

Good evening,

If the acute phase of the epidemic appears behind us, some patients continue to suffer from persistent symptoms . Le Figaro went to Foch hospital where a dedicated unit receives Covid patients who are struggling to heal. While the epidemic has claimed 14 new victims since yesterday in French hospitals, the R parameter has returned to above 1 in five French regions. In Italy , traces of the virus were found in wastewater in mid-December, before the alert was given in Wuhan. Finally, French public debt is soaring.

Good reading,

Roland Gauron, journalist at Le Figaro

1. What happened today

The Foch Hospital in Suresnes (Hauts-de-Seine) has set up a fitness program for patients healed from Covid-19 for whom symptoms persist. François Bouchon / Le Figaro

When the disease never ends. Pain, fatigue, shortness of breath ... Some Covid patients suffer from persistent symptoms, even several months after being infected with the virus. In Suresnes, the Foch hospital has set up a fitness program for recovered patients for whom symptoms persist. "Many are considering relapsing. In reality, when they repeat a PCR test, they no longer have the virus. It is only a medical complication of the Covid ” , explains Dr Nicolas Barizien, head of the department of physical medicine and rehabilitation. In parallel, studies are taking place. Pending the first results, doctors can only speculate. "We are probably facing post-infectious syndromes, but for the moment we have no scientific data on the subject" , underlines Prof. Yazdan Yazdanpanah, head of the infectious diseases department at Bichat hospital.

Read also: Coronavirus: Didier Raoult contradicts himself and now evokes a second epidemic wave

Where is the epidemic? France has recorded 14 additional Covid-19 deaths in hospitals in the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of deaths since the start of the epidemic to 29,617, according to the latest assessment from the Directorate General of Health. However, the “effective R” reproduction rate - corresponding to the average number of people infected with the same Covid-19 case - has risen above 1 in five French regions: Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Normandy, l 'Occitanie, Martinique and Guyane. Should we worry? "This R is a formula derived from a mathematical model, not a directly observable epidemiological indicator, and for the same data, you can also have different calculation methods" , relativizes Professor Antoine Flahault, epidemiologist at the university from Geneva. He also recalls that there is a margin of uncertainty: for Normandy and Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, it even causes R to oscillate around 1.

We are at a critical moment when we will see in which direction the pandemic will go.

Elsewhere in the world. The milestone of one million infected should be crossed tonight in Brazil. The country has had the highest number of cases in the world in the past three weeks. " We are at a critical moment when we will see in which direction the pandemic will go. The direction is not clear, because there is no decrease in the number of cases, and we are witnessing a reopening of the economy, "worries Roberto Kraenkel, professor at the State University of Sao Paulo. Anyway, the Latin American giant should register in the coming days his 50,000th death. In Italy, researchers from the Higher Institute of Health found traces of Sars-CoV-2 in wastewater from December 18 in Milan and Turin, even before the alert was given in Wuhan. The virus was also circulating in Bologna in late January. The first case of Covid-19 formally identified in Italy dates back to February 20.

Read also: French cinema had to contend with the streaming platforms it conspired

Public debt is soaring. According to figures released Friday by INSEE Friday, the public debt amounted at the end of March to 2438.5 billion euros, or 101.3% of the creation of wealth in the country. As a result of spending linked to the crisis, Bercy already forecasts that it will exceed 120% of GDP at the end of the year. These figures may change depending on the economic situation, which remains evolving and unprecedented. The fact remains that this debt will have to be repaid one day. So far, the executive has flatly refused any tax increase to finance it. France is currently betting on the return of growth to deleverage. Still according to INSEE, the most modest households - the 20% of the population with the lowest incomes - suffered the most from confinement. During the health crisis, 30% of them saw their financial situation deteriorate, against only 11% of the wealthiest - the 20% with the highest incomes.

2. See, travel, visit ...

In the series "The Great", the formidable Catherine II, camped by Elle Fanning, is still only a Prussian princess blue flower and idealist. Ollie Upton / Hulu / STARZPLAY

See. In the series The Great , Tony McNamara, the screenwriter of La Favorite , rewrote the early years of Catherine II, Empress of Russia, in the form of a black comedy. Actress Elle Fanning delights in the role of blue flower princess who discovers herself a despot. “As a warning at the start of each of its ten episodes warns, The Great tells“ occasionally true facts ”. History purists and grumpy refrain, " warns Constance Jamet. "For someone who has little taste for classicism and the" wise and polite aspect of historical fiction ", Tony McNamara dusted the genre of drama costume with vigor and pizzazz. By associating the monarchies of yesteryear and biting our modern language, it "combines the best of both worlds" , enthuses our journalist. To discover on Starzplay.

Read also: The existential question: how high should shorts stop?

To visit. Before the reopening of the Musée d'Orsay on June 22, its director Laurence des Cars returns in an interview to Le Figaro on the work carried out during its closure. “From a distance, the work consisted in developing digital activity and saving programming. The hardest part was predicting when we were going to reopen. We have created several scenarios, including a closure until September, ”she says. Before congratulating himself: "All our projects are confirmed." The retrospective of the painter James Tissot (1836-1902), which was to start on March 24, is thus extended until September 13 . As well as the exhibition dedicated to Léopold Chauveau (1870-1940), self-taught artist, sculptor, illustrator and author of books for adults and children, in the imaginary world populated by monsters.

This space had been fallow for more than thirty years, spontaneous vegetation had grown there. We have proposed to keep part of it and to enrich it with an exotic botanical collection.

Travel. The journalist Guillaume Jan left for Nantes to discover the Extraordinary Garden and its exuberant vegetation inspired by the universe of Jules Verne. "The latest addition to Nantes' green spaces is a Garden of Eden where the unusual and excessiveness blend into the grandiose decor of this ancient quarry, a granite cirque that overlooks the Loire," he explains. Loïc Mareschal, head of the Phytolab agency, which designed this project in collaboration with the urban planner Bernard Reichen, explains his approach: “This space had been fallow for more than thirty years, spontaneous vegetation had grown there. We proposed to keep part of it and to enrich it with an exotic botanical collection. ” In the same quarry, a “Heron Tree” will soon be erected, a colossal steel structure 35 meters high and 50 in diameter, designed by the founders of Machines de l'Île.

To read also: The high lunar gastronomy of Mauro Colagreco

To cook. Christophe Hay, chef of the restaurant La Maison d'à Côté, in Montlivault, in the Loir-et-Cher, gives us an appointment on the edge of the Loire to fish for mullet. “I have been passionate about fishing and nature since childhood. We were installed between the Loir and the Loire, a river and a river both wild and peaceful. Fishing sessions are my childhood, ” explains our guest. “Here, the mules have nothing to do with those found in ports, which only eat junk. Their flesh naturally purifies itself in the water of the river. ” He gives us his recipe for smoked Loire mullet with linden, radish, shiso: “We associate the mullet with the very fresh and spicy side of the radish, it's interesting. We smoke it very lightly so that it doesn't taste too strong. ”

3. Photo of the day

Emblematic of the Promenade des Anglais in Nice, the Negresco hotel reopened on Friday June 19 after three months of inactivity. VALERY HACHE / AFP

4. Deconfinement, "phase 2"

If many bans have been lifted with the "phase 2" of deconfinement, the time has not yet returned to normal, especially in the orange zones - Guyana and Mayotte. Here is what is allowed again:

• The 100 km limitation is removed. Air travel to overseas is reserved for compelling reasons.
• Schools continue to reopen gradually, with a limit of 15 students per class.
• Restaurants, bars and cafes reopen following certain rules. Only the terraces are concerned in the orange zone.
• Hotels can reopen all over the country, as can other tourist accommodation in the green zone.
• Parks and gardens, as well as forests, are accessible, as are beaches, lakes and nautical centers.
• The museums, monuments and zoological parks reopen their doors, with compulsory mask.
• Theaters, casinos and leisure parks are once again open to the public, but only in green areas.
• In the green zone, the gyms and swimming pools reopen. Stadiums and racetracks also, but without audiences.

And what is not yet:

• Gatherings of more than 10 people in public space are prohibited.
• The events of more than 5000 people will wait, at least until August 31.
• The cinemas will reopen on June 22. Discos and game rooms are still closed until further notice.
• Collective and contact sports are prohibited at least until phase 3.

Read also: Phase 2 deconfinement: what is allowed or not from Tuesday

5. 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 in public spaces.
• 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 fatigue , signs of shortness of breath and a dry cough .

6. 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, the Primary Health Insurance Fund will contact those likely to 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 next week.