The data on the health crisis in Paris and neighboring municipalities, explained the minister, are not good. Incidence rate of 263 positive per 100 thousand inhabitants, 105 for people over 65, and 35% of intensive care units occupied by Covid patients. The minister suspended the decision to wait to “stabilize” the data over several days. If by Sunday the curve does not improve, then the same rule will apply as in Marseille and Aix-en-Provence, the first two French cities that passed the “scarlet red” maximum alert category, with the end of bar and restaurant activities for 15 days.
A hard blow for the Ville Lumière, where many restaurants and cafes are already being tested by the consequences of last spring’s lockdown. After the reopening in May, the municipality had granted free occupation of public land and until a few days ago, with the beautiful days, the tables had invaded pavements and parking spaces in the streets. Right now the trade associations are trying to avoid the closure by proposing to strengthen health protocols, inserting a register of customers, on the model of Italy, and limiting the tables to no more than eight people. Last week, the government had already announced the closure of gyms in the capital and setting the end of the activity of bars and restaurants at 10 pm. The crackdown was not enough, at least judging by the numbers.
Precisely in Marseille, Véran specified, there are the first “signs of hope” with a timid slowdown in the curve of new positives and Covid patients in hospitals. A positive trend also observed in Nice and Bordeaux. “But it is still too early to say if it is an established trend,” added Véran. Five other French cities are under high surveillance: Lille, Grenoble, Toulouse, Lyon and Saint-Etienne. The minister promised to wait another week before putting in place restrictions on social life in these metropolises as well.
The latest health bulletin confirms the strong circulation of the virus in France, the second most affected European country with Spain: 13,970 new infections in twenty-four hours, a positivity rate always at 7.6%, stable for two days. Since yesterday there have been – among hospitals, rest homes and institutions for the disabled – another 63 deaths, with the total number of deaths since the beginning of the epidemic exceeding 32,000. Véran said he was “not worried” about the outbreaks in schools – which represent a third of the total – considered by the government to be under control. All the studies confirm the scarce contagiousness of the little ones, added the minister who then launched a heartfelt appeal to young people: “Don’t be stupid when you go home. Don’t invite twenty friends to have fun. I am convinced that young people know that ‘is a risk for the people they love. Youth must show exemplary solidarity “.
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