Dear subscribers,
Liberticide for some, preventive health weapon for others, the obligation to wear a mask outside divides the “pro” and the “anti”. The survivors of the Covid testify from the bottom of their hospital beds: lung damage, cardiac sequelae ... Making the effort to put on a mask is nothing for them compared to the consequences of the disease . The Scientific Council, spectator of an outbreak of contaminations in the world , expects a new wave at the start of the school year , and this has nothing to do with Godard and the dark rooms which are spending a dark summer. Fortunately the picture is not so dark as one might have thought for culture and tourism : some players manage to get out of the game by focusing on local customers , compensating for the absence of foreign tourists.
Good reading,
Margaux d'Adhémar, journalist at Le Figaro
1. Masks: principle of protection against principle of freedom
Anti-mask protest in Columbus, Ohio, eastern United States, in response to laws requiring masks to be worn on the streets. Jeff Dean / AFP
Wearing a mask in the street: the French skeptical? Since August 1, mayors and prefects have the right to impose the wearing of masks outside. After Lille, Nice, Bayonne, Toulouse, Biarritz, and La Rochelle, Paris is now in the crosshairs: while social distancing has long been abandoned by public transport users, Hidalgo has deemed "absolutely essential" the port of mask in the street. According to the question of the day of Figaro which mobilized 165,900 readers, about 45% are against wearing a mask in the street. On social networks, French people hostile to wearing masks do not hesitate to create groups and multiply messages and videos to try to convince of the absurdity, even the ineffectiveness of this protection. Several rallies were also held in Berlin as well as in California to demonstrate against the obligation to wear a mask which, according to them, would be an attack on freedom. In France, in the cities affected by the measure, failure to wear a mask outdoors is punishable by a fine ranging from 135 to 3,750 euros. The mask or the plum, you have to choose.
Read also: Wearing a mask outdoors: a choice much more political than scientific
Post-Covid complications: when the disease does not end. Take off the masks? For the victims of the coronavirus, certainly not. In an interview with Le Figaro , Prof. Chantal Raherison-Semjen, president of the French-language pneumology society (SPLF) and head of the Bordeaux CHU pneumology department, explains that having contracted the coronavirus would imply "alveolar damage" to the patient. lung level. Last week, a German study published in the journal Jama Cardiology warned about the risk of complications in the heart: out of 100 patients, researchers report inflammation of the heart muscle (myocardium) for 60 of between them and / or the pericardium, the envelope surrounding the heart. “We are no longer faced with an infectious disease, ” underlines Dr. Benjamin Davido, infectious disease specialist at Raymond-Poincaré hospital in Garches. “ The virus is no longer present in the body. But the damaged ships have not been repaired. Which would explain why the symptoms persist. ” Sequelae linked to Covid-19 which worry, especially since the Directorate General of Health (DGS) indicated that 3,376 cases had been detected this weekend, including 556 in 24 hours, an average of 1,125 new cases per day in three days.
Read also: Coronavirus: "We can switch at any time", warns the Scientific Council
2. A new “highly probable” wave
A patient with the coronavirus exercises with a balloon to strengthen her lungs, which are severely affected by the disease. ALFREDO ESTRELLA / AFP
The fear of a risky return to France. "The start of the school year will be very hard, we must prepare for it," warns the Elysee, blithely sounding the alarm. Since the beginning of July, the queues to be tested have continued to grow. The latter may "be well on their way to last all summer, or even this fall since the Covid-19 may remain present when the flu returns", warns Xavier Palette, president of the National Union of Hospital Biologists (SNBH) . According to the president of the Scientific Council on the coronavirus, the end of the summer will be much more favorable to an explosion in the number of cases, the situation " remains very fragile throughout the territory ", he recalls in an interview with Le Figaro . This is evidenced by recent figures from Public Health France (SpF), which counts 65 new clusters in one week.
Read also: Macron is wrong: the return will not be difficult, but apocalyptic
Outbreak of contaminations. Tuesday, August 4, the pandemic has killed at least 689,758 people around the world since the end of December, and more than 18 million cases have been officially recorded. And it's not over. In Belgium, the government is facing an upsurge in contamination in “ densely populated ” neighborhoods. In Australia, Melbourne has imposed a six-week curfew: " We cannot continue to have 400-500 cases a day," sighs Victoria State leader Daniel Andrews. The United States, for its part, now has more than 4 million cases and a number of deaths approaching 160,000. Figures that Donald Trump disputes, choosing to present the number of deaths compared to the number of cases and not as a proportion of the population. " We are inferior to the rest of the world, " hammered the American president during an interview, " inferior to Europe! ", He persists. Despite his “Warp Speed” operation to try to produce 300 million doses of a vaccine by January 2021, Trump saw his hopes go up in smoke when the director WHO general announced last Monday that there would probably be " no cure-all and there may never be ."
Read also: Coronavirus: the "lack of preparation" for the start of the school year is "total", deplores Hervé Morin
3. Tourism: we must save summer 2020
Covid-19 crisis requires, a large majority of French people are spending their holidays in France this summer. STEPHANE DE SAKUTIN / AFP
The hotel and catering industry: the left behind? Hit hard by the crisis, tourism professionals have no choice but to give alms to the state - the latter has promised them that they will benefit from an exceptional stimulus plan of 18 billion euros. From this Wednesday, August 5, tourism stakeholders will benefit from a “season” EMP, the ceiling of which will be calculated as the sum of the three best months of turnover in 2019. Other aid measures have been put in place. in place by the government, notably with an extension of the partial unemployment scheme until December. Good news for restaurateurs, who are trying to make up for the losses related to containment as best they can, taking advantage of the sunny days to triple the size of their terraces - temporary and free extensions, valid until September 30. As for the hotel industry, the sector remains the one furthest from the economic recovery and is struggling to regain color. Worried, the president of the National Group of Hotel Chains (GNC) estimates that if the economic situation continues, " more than 20% of establishments could be in a situation of virtual bankruptcy by the end of the year ".
To read also: "They will infect us": the coronavirus causes a stigmatization of Mayenne holidaymakers
Franco-French holidays. The ministers wanted to set an example. With the exception of Jean-Yves Le Drian, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, all remained in France for their holidays. Most of the French have followed suit and also opted for local vacations. Wellness stays, campsites and rental platforms are the winning trifecta of the post-containment summer. The eco-bobos-vegan were joined by laymen who came to swell the ranks of their wellness stays: " A new clientele is emerging, and project leaders want more and more to integrate the well-being dimension into their tourist offer " , indicates to Figaro Stéphanie Rembuche, director of a consulting firm specializing in wellness tourism. The campsites are not to be outdone: this year, “ young people are starting out, while the average age of the motorhome operator is rather around 60 years. Rentals were a hit: there will have been 25,000 new motorhomes bought in 2020 by French people, ”says Laurent Morice, co-founder of Camping Car Park. Reservations on Airbnb are also in full swing: “ This summer, French tourists largely compensate for the absence of foreign tourists. Last summer, the clientele was 65% French; this year it's over 80%. The rebound in bookings from mid-May was a good surprise " , assures Emmanuel Marill, CEO of Airbnb France. It remains to be seen whether this great leap forward will be enough to meet the debts accumulated during the confinement.
Read also: The Landes coast is surfing a new wave of French tourists
4. What remains prohibited
In compliance with barrier gestures and the rules of physical distance, most activities have resumed. What remains forbidden and what will still have to wait:
- With the end of the state of health emergency (except in Guyana and Mayotte, where it was extended until October 30 inclusive), the stadiums and racetracks have reopened since July 11 with a maximum number of 5,000 spectators. River cruises could resume and probably sea cruises between European ports. Shows for more than 5,000 people will be authorized, subject to conditions, from August 15.
- Nightclubs and international cruises remain closed until September, as do fairs and shows.
- Team sports are allowed, but combat sports are not.
5. Reflexes to keep
A few simple actions can limit the spread of the virus. Here they are :
- Wash your hands every hour
- Cough or sneeze into the crease of your elbow
- Use disposable tissues
- Avoid kissing or shaking hands
- Wear a mask in public spaces when respect for physical distances is not guaranteed.
Covid-19 is transmitted by droplets (respiratory secretions), by close contact with an infected person, especially when the latter coughs or sneezes. The virus also remains viable for a few hours on different surfaces.
The disease manifests itself in 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, in case of symptoms, stay at home and contact your doctor who will prescribe a test. While waiting for the result, you must isolate yourself, wear a mask and prepare a list of people you could have infected.
Read also: From the test to isolation through the tracing of contact cases, the journey of the Covid patient
If the test is positive , the Primary Health Insurance Fund will contact people likely to be infected. You must then remain isolated for at least 8 days, taking care not to infect your loved ones. Watch your health. In case of fever, take paracetamol. Possibly schedule a follow-up teleconsultation with your doctor. If you feel that you are having difficulty breathing, call 15.
If the test is negative , contact your doctor and follow his instructions.
See you next week !
