Covid-19: schools, vaccines, passes … what avenues will the government choose during the Sa Defense Council – ladepeche.fr

“This fifth wave is starting off in a dazzling fashion”: this observation on the French health situation, it was Gabriel Attal, spokesman for the government, who had drawn it up on November 21. Like the other countries of the European Union, France is facing a new “exponential” wave of contamination. What to increase the pressure on the hospital system.

The President of the Republic, Emmanuel Macron, announced the holding of a new health defense council this Wednesday, November 24. And the executive is considering new measures to contain the epidemic.

What is the health situation in France?

The starting point of this new wave, it is the contaminations which progress in a dazzling way in the country since the middle of October. According to the latest figures from Public Health France, the authorities record on average more than 18,400 new cases of Covid-19 each day (i.e. 64.7% more in a week).

Faced with this new wave of contamination, some departments are more impacted than others. This is the case, among others, of the Ardèche, which displays the highest incidence rate in the country between 13 and 19 November: 380 cases per 100,000 inhabitants were recorded over this period. Same concern in the Landes (264.8 cases per 100,000 inhabitants), in the Bouches-du-Rhône (272 cases per 100,000 inhabitants) and in Haute-Corse (330.8 cases per 100,000 inhabitants).

Over the past two weeks, all French departments have shown an increase in their incidence rate. It is not very marked in Lozère: the department has only seen its incidence rate rise by 0.78%, as shown in the maps below (if no card is displayed, please deactivate your ad blocker).

The main concern for health authorities is whether this increase in contamination is likely to increase the pressure exerted on French hospitals. The map presented below shows the evolution of hospitalizations linked to Covid-19 in recent months.

Currently, more than 8,300 patients are hospitalized for Covid-19 in France, 2,000 more than just a month ago. In addition, more than 1,400 people have been admitted to intensive care: a level that had not been reached since last September.

What actions are possible in schools?

The evolution of the health situation in French schools worries the authorities: this Tuesday, November 23, the Ministry of Education indicated that nearly 6,000 classes are currently closed in France because of the virus. As a reminder, a class closes its doors when a case of Covid-19 has been detected.

This record has never been so high since the start of the school year, which could push Jean-Michel Blanquer to toughen the health protocol put in place, based on the incidence rate of the departments. In areas where the epidemic is on the rise, schools may have to apply a stricter health protocol.

For the moment, everyone is in phase 2 (out of 4) of this protocol, as indicated the website of the Ministry of Education in a detailed document, but some departments could move to phase 3. This would mean that in the territories most affected by the increase in contamination, the high schools would have to apply a hybridization: all the students would not go to class at the same time. All schools should also apply a mixing of pupils in the canteen.

What actions on the vaccination side?

The French authorities rely heavily on this lever to fight against the virus. In the country, 75.5% of French people have a complete vaccination schedule. However, at least 10% of people eligible for vaccination “have not received an injection”, deplored this Monday, November 22 Arnaud Fontanet, epidemiologist at the Institut Pasteur and member of the Scientific Council, at the microphone of Franceinfo. The primary vaccination, it is a workhorse for the executive: in an opinion which was published on November 20, the Scientific Council strongly recommended to “maintain or even strengthen the efforts of primary vaccination, since unvaccinated people have a risk of the order of 10 times higher for hospitalization and stay in critical care “.

The executive also intends to focus on booster doses. During this new health defense council, the executive will have to examine the question of “the extension of the third dose of the vaccine, considering the recommendations that we have obtained from the various scientific and health authorities”, Olivier explained on Tuesday. Véran, Minister of Health.

For now, in France, this injection only concerns people over 65 and people at risk of severe forms of the disease, as well as caregivers. One third of the population eligible for the booster dose received this injection.

What measures to tighten barrier gestures?

Also in its opinion issued on November 20, the Scientific Council advocates the tightening of health rules, especially with regard to the wearing of masks. The organization thus wishes “reintroduce the wearing of a mask in certain places“. Since November 15, it has been reinstated in all primary schools in the country.

For the time being, by prefectural decree, 26 French departments have chosen to reinstate the wearing of compulsory masks outside, in many public places, near certain schools, or on the occasion of sporting or cultural events. . The government could thus be led to extend this obligation.

The possibility of not wearing a mask in a place subject to the health pass could also be eliminated. For the time being, only the prefects can make it compulsory to wear a mask in these places.

Towards a tightening of sanitary pass controls?

This is a request from the Minister of the Interior Gérald Darmanin, who wrote this Monday, November 22 to the prefects to ask them for “firmness” in the controls of the health pass in restaurants, facing rebound of the epidemic of Covid-19. “I ask you to bring together without delay the departmental representatives of the hotel and catering trades in order to remind them of their obligations relating to the health crisis,” he added, referring to the control of the health pass for customers and employees.

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Covid-19: Gérald Darmanin wants reinforcement of sanitary pass controls in restaurants

In this note, Gérald Darmanin also asks to “maintain at a high level the mobilization” of the police, “by resorting, if necessary, to the administrative closure of establishments”.

What measures at work?

The Scientific Council recommends a gradual return to teleworking. Visiting L’Oréal’s headquarters in Clichy (Hauts-de-Seine), the Minister of Labor, Élisabeth Borne, called on French companies to “re-mobilize” with regard to barrier gestures.

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Teleworking: why the Minister of Labor does not apply the opinion of the scientific council?

For now, the health protocol which is applied in companies gives employers carte blanche : they are the ones who decide on a possible recourse to teleworking “within the framework of local social dialogue”.