Jean Castex recalled, Thursday, August 27, that the Covid-19 epidemic is in “Recrudescence” in France, during its joint press conference with the Ministers of Health and Education, Olivier Véran and Jean-Michel Blanquer. From now on, 28 departments are placed in the red zone, or “active traffic zone” of the Covid-19. What does it mean and what does it change? We answer you.
Paris, Bouches-du-Rhône, Val-de-Marne, Seine-Saint-Denis, Hauts-de-Seine, Essonne, Yvelines, Val-d’Oise, Seine-et-Marne , Sarthe, Rhône, Gironde, Haute-Garonne, Hérault, Gard, Loiret, Vaucluse, Var, Alpes-Maritimes, Guadeloupe, Martinique. And since September 6, the North, Bas-Rhin, Seine-Maritime, Côte-d’Or, Reunion Island, Corse-du-Sud and Haute-Corse have been added to the departments in the red zone.
Why is a department classified as red?
The fact that a department is considered Covid-19 active traffic zone depends on one indicator in particular: the incidence rate. If this rate exceeds 50 new cases of Covid-19 per 100,000 inhabitants in one week, the department is classified in the red zone. The indicator is calculated from the results of PCR tests (by a sample from the nasal cavity). Two levels have been defined by the Ministry of Health: the vigilance threshold (when more than 10 people out of 100,000 are infected) and the alert threshold (therefore, when this figure reaches or exceeds 50).
As had announced Jean Castex at the end of August, the national average incidence rate is “39 positive cases out of 10,000”. Is “Four times more than a month ago”. And this national rate is sometimes largely exceeded in certain departments in the red zone, as in the Bouches-du-Rhône (140 per 100,000), Paris (103) or again Guyana (88).
Put in place additional health measures
More “The passage in” zone of active circulation “(ZCA) of the virus can also be decided by anticipation”, indicated the government. If the incidence rate of a department is very close to 50 per 100,000 inhabitants, and is increasing, and if it is close to another department with a high incidence rate.
“According to the decree of July 10, 2020, this new card should enable the prefects of departments classified as ZCA to implement additional health measures such as limiting the movement of people or closing certain establishments. The decision to move to ZCA is taken by decree of the Prime Minister. “
#COVID?19. 28 departments now classified as “active circulation area of the virus” after the publication this Sunday of the decree adding Corse-du-Sud, Haute-Corse, Côte-d’Or, Nord, Bas-Rhin, Seine-Maritime and La Réunion to the 21 already in red.
> @francebleu: https://t.co/GmMHBexYKi pic.twitter.com/R40xg1WXm5
– Visactu (@visactu) September 6, 2020
That is to say that, once the department has been placed in the red zone, the prefect can limit or even prohibit gatherings (and it will be impossible “To waive the ban on gatherings of more than 5,000 people”, announced Jean Castex), limit travel, or even close establishments (as in the Bouches-du-Rhône, where all drinking establishments and general food stores must close from 12:30 a.m. to 6 a.m.).
And the health authorities may decide to strengthen barrier actions, strengthen screening capacities or mobilize health establishments.
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