Will we avoid a second wave of the epidemic? The situation is much more worrying in France than in Germany. However, Angela Merkel alert: “We know the toughest times are ahead of us. ” This situation calls for our responsibility. But to implement it, we must avoid the pitfall of recklessness and fear.
It would be irresponsible to lose patience by pretending nothing has happened. Because the virus is probably around for a long time to come. We must therefore make the necessary efforts to preserve the lives of others. And we know how to slow the transmission of the epidemic: masks, barrier gestures, tests, isolate patients and find their contacts …
Responsible for each other
It is necessary that these recommendations be put into practice, even by those who believe themselves to be immune from the disease. Because they risk contaminating, unwittingly, more vulnerable people. “Do not do to others what you would not like to be done to yourself”, says wisdom. We need to be mindful of each other because we are responsible for each other.
But giving in to fear would be an equally formidable trap. Because, “The fear of contagion immobilizes. Is it reasonable to let it suffocate our country? “, asked the neurologist Alexandre Carpentier in Les Échos (1). Falling into passivity will not help us emerge victorious from the ordeal. To withdraw into oneself to the point of stopping social, family, associative, economic life would generate great evils.
We saw it during confinement. Despite the generous measures taken by the Government, unemployment and poverty have jumped. We also deplored the tragedies of domestic violence and “All the collateral victims: suicides, depression, poverty and exclusion, over-indebtedness, dismissed, out of school, non-covid patients …”, recalls Alexandre Carpentier (1).
Disorganization of tests
In this fight against the epidemic, the State is responsible for increasing the efficiency of administrations and health services. It is about putting an end to the disorganization around the tests, to the slowness of the results. It is also about anticipating difficult situations in the hospital. However, the resuscitation beds are not more numerous than in spring (2).
Making the French responsible is more effective than brandishing the prospect of a “turn of the screw”. Because it is together that we will achieve victory. We should prevent the pandemic from causing cascading crises, including democratic ones, which would hamper the future of our country.
As new measures are being prepared and the post-state emergency transitional regime has just been renewed, care must be taken to ensure that the search for health security does not override fundamental freedoms. Because they are the crucible of the responsibility of citizens and the source of the dynamism of democracy.
(1) Les Échos, 23-9-20 (2) Le Figaro 30-9-20
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