Coronavirus: what you need to know this Monday, June 22

Good evening,

For nearly ten million schoolchildren and middle school students, the hour for recovery struck this morning. If the reception of all children should be the rule, this return to class was still limited, especially in colleges. France has recorded 23 new Covid-19 deaths in hospital in the past 24 hours. In Germany, an outbreak in the giant Rheda-Wiedenbrück slaughterhouse could cause the epidemic to flare up. With the lifting of health constraints, business activity is accelerating and certain sectors are rebounding better than expected.

Good reading,

Roland Gauron, journalist at Le Figaro

1. What happened today

Ten million schoolchildren and middle school students were expected this Monday morning to resume classes two weeks away from summer vacation. LIONEL BONAVENTURE / AFP

Children back to school. At Antony, as everywhere else in France, it was floating like the air of September return this morning. Ten million schoolchildren and middle school students were expected to resume classes. But, between schools that are still partially open and parents who are sometimes reluctant, this return to class was carried out in dispersed order. “The bill is heavy. The academic delay will be very hard to make up for, ” worries Professor Robert Cohen, pediatric infectious disease specialist at the Créteil intercommunal hospital. The Minister of National Education, Jean-Michel Blanquer, has also announced a back-to-school plan to make up for the delay during confinement. The time spent away from schools seems all the longer since the children seem not to be contagious. This is at least what the first results of a serological survey conducted in Crépy-en-Valois, in the Oise, show.

Read also: When the CNRS examines containment

Where is the epidemic? Twenty-three people have died at Covid-19 hospital in the past 24 hours, bringing the total dead to 29,663 since the start of the epidemic. The total number of people hospitalized also continues to drop, with 9,693 patients across the country, 130 fewer in 24 hours. At the same time, the number of Covid-19 patients in intensive care continues to drop, with 701 patients now, 14 less than in the report published the day before by Santé publique France. The General Directorate of Health stresses however that the virus " continues to circulate on the territory ", with five new foci of grouped cases, bringing to 83 the number of "clusters" under investigation. For its part, the Scientific Council considered an increase in the circulation of the coronavirus in the fall "extremely probable" .

The German "R" explodes. In Germany, the effective reproduction rate of the R virus rose sharply over the weekend. The cause: an outbreak of infection in the main pork processor in the country. Regional authorities have diagnosed more than 1,300 cases positive for coronavirus in the Tönnies slaughterhouse in Rheda-Wiedenbrück. The German government recorded its biggest health setback since the start of deconfinement, it whose management of the epidemic had been widely praised. Beyond the meat industry, the image of the Land of North Rhine-Westphalia, led by one of the most serious contenders for the succession of Angela Merkel, is under attack. “ Armin Laschet should have intervened much earlier to contain the epidemic. As minister-president, he is responsible for this failure, ”accuses Stephanie Töwe, of the NGO Greenpeace.

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The recovery of the economy in sight. After the containment was stopped, a number of companies began to see the end of the tunnel. The lifting of health constraints has given a boost to the resumption of activity, which is proving to be better than expected in several sectors. Without having yet returned to its pre-crisis level. This is particularly the case in construction and public works, where it has almost returned to its usual level after two months of downtime. Certain industries also find colors, in particular the food industry or energy. In retail, many stores made up for lost sales in April, while restaurants are filling up again with terraces, despite restrictions. Some important sectors such as transport and the hotel industry, on the other hand, are still idling.

2. See, garden, reconcile ...

After weeks of tension, some couples consolidate and see confinement as a beneficial period. 193248722 / .shock - stock.adobe.com

Reconcile. Cloistered together for two months, without external distraction, they got lost to better find themselves. Élise and Giacinto, Priscille and François or even Constance and Stanislas could have been among the couples broken by confinement. The experience allowed them to get to know each other better. “It is difficult to maintain a couple relationship which is experienced only as constraint, tension. But there is also a positive concept of effort: an application that we deliberately agree to provide in order to obtain something that we deem desirable, ” explains Denis Moreau, professor of philosophy at the University of Nantes. “In sport, work, art, it seems normal. Why should everything be done in the domain of love alone? ”

Read also: "Regression, nightmares, withdrawal": Covid and confinement traumatized many children

See. After three months of interruption, the films are making a comeback on the big screen. Good news: despite the postponement of several blockbusters, there will be many interesting films to watch all summer. Starting this week, director Agnieszka Holland is working with L'Ombre de Staline on the great famine orchestrated by Stalin in 1933 to destroy Ukraine. Benni de Nora Fingscheidt stages an explosive and uncontrollable kid, camped by a promising 12-year-old actress, Helena Zengel. With her first film, Cancion sin nombre , Melina Leon tackles a scandal of child trafficking in Peru in the 1980s. Released shortly before the cinemas closed, several feature films, promised great success, stand out in theaters this Monday.

The seasoned and informed tourist now turns to trips that make sense, ethical and human.

Garden. Sunbathing, fan-shaped feet? It was yesterday. Fashion is in workshops and internships to reconnect with the land and learn a skill. If the trend is not new, containment has strengthened it. “Creative tourism is not a fashion or a marketing strategy but an evolution. The seasoned and informed tourist now turns to trips that make sense, both ethical and human. Interest, ultimately, is not so much the destination but the way to discover it, ” confirms Caroline Couret, founder of Creative Tourism Network, an international network that promotes creative tourism.

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To cook. Arnaud Donckele, from La Vague d'Or, in Saint-Tropez, presents the star figure of the Mediterranean Sea: the capon. Not to be confused with its Gallinaceous namesake. “The capon is a fish that I find hypersexy, rock'n'roll. When we see photos or videos, we immediately notice that it is a dominant. And I love its texture, ” says the three-star chef. “ Without getting to the level of the mullet, the lisette, the anchovies or the sardines, it is one of the most aromatic flesh in the mouth. She has a lot of character, ”he adds. Before delivering its recipe: just seared and crisp capon, sand celery, melting apple with iodized condiments, elegance of an aïgau-Sau soup.

3. Photo of the day

At the mK2 Library in Paris, human-sized plush "minions", famous characters from "Me, ugly and mean", occupy the vacant places to comply with health regulations. BENOIT TESSIER / REUTERS

4. Deconfinement, phase 3

The government has announced a new round of deconfinement easing that will take effect on Monday, June 22. Here is what is allowed again:

• French people can return to the cinema, the casino, the game rooms and go to holiday centers.
• Team sports are again allowed. Combat sports are however prohibited, except at a high level.

What remains prohibited and what will still have to wait:

• The stadiums and racetracks will reopen on July 11, with a maximum number of 5,000 spectators.
• River cruises will wait for the same date. Sea cruises could also resume between European ports.
• International fairs, exhibitions, shows, nightclubs and cruises will remain closed until September.
• Gatherings of more than 10 people in public space are always prohibited.
• The activities gathering more than 1500 people must be declared in prefecture.
• Events of more than 5000 people are prohibited at least until August 31.

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 several 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 .

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.