France supports possible new lockdown measures as Covid-19 deaths rise
France is strengthening a possible new shutdown as President Emmanuel Macron prepares a TV address on Wednesday with the aim of stopping a rapidly rising tide of coronavirus patients in French hospitals and a growing daily death toll.
Macron is due to speak to the nation Wednesday night to present new measures that will be decided at back-to-back meetings of the Defense Council and the Cabinet, the presidency said.
“We have to prepare for difficult decisions,” Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin told France Inter radio.
“At some point, we will have to make tough choices … as our neighbors have done,” he said, referring to strict new measures announced for Italy, Spain and elsewhere in Europe.
Many French doctors are calling for a new nationwide shutdown, noting that 58 percent of the country’s intensive care units are now occupied by Covid-19 patients and medical staff are under increasing pressure.
“The government did not take into account what the first wave was and did not learn all its lessons,” Frederic Valletoux, president of the French Hospital Association, told France Inter radio on Wednesday.
He called for a full monthly lockout and said “this wave will be much more devastating to the hospital system. Hospitals will not succeed if we do not take drastic measures. ”
Some French doctors, nurses with Covid-19 asked to work when the country’s cases increase
Business owners are pushing for compromise
The French government has been reluctant to impose a new lockdown that would hit the economy even harder, and business executives have warned that a total shutdown will force another wave of layoffs and bankruptcies.
Instead, authorities imposed a curfew this month, which now requires about 46 million people – two-thirds of the population – to be home by noon. 21:00 to 06.00, as the number of daily virus cases has flared up.
Business owners and some politicians are pushing for a compromise, such as local lockdown in the hardest hit areas or a lockdown that allows schools to remain open.
Economists warn that a complete blockade could affect Europe more broadly if other European countries are hit hard by rising infections and then follow France’s lead.
France reported 523 virus-related deaths in 24 hours on Tuesday, the highest daily figure since April, bringing its total death toll to 35,541, the third highest number in Europe after the UK and Italy.
Over the past few weeks, France has reported tens of thousands of new infections a day and now registers more than 380 new cases each week. 100,000 people.
Media reports say Macron, who met to discuss the wave with senior ministers on Tuesday, may extend the exit ban period and possibly impose a full shutdown over the weekend or otherwise order targeted shutdowns for the hardest-hit regions.
Another option could be to postpone the students’ return from the autumn holidays, which end on the weekends, especially to colleges and universities.
( Jowharwith AFP, AP and REUTERS)
