What if confinement caused by the coronavirus pandemic lasted longer than expected? This is what recommends the Covid-19 Scientific Committee president François Delfraissy who thinks it should be extended to early May (instead of April 15th as announced so far by the government). A decision Edouard Philippe is supposed to make very soon.
The reason of this likely extension, François Delfrassy gives it to our peers on BFMTV: “The epidemic’s peak plateau hasn’t been reached yet. Let us be strict on confinement (…) the only way to stem this epidemic” he explains. He continues: “This is something exceptional, but that will last in time, for several weeks. I think it would be best to say it so now”. He also adds it’s too soon to plan a deconfinement date.
A reason also shared by Health Minister Olivier Véran: “This isn’t over, far from it: we’re not at the end of the epidemic ascent” he explains. The other reason mentioned, this time by the Scientific Committee head, too many people are breaking the confinement rules, as shown by the number of Parisians in the streets: “When I saw this weekend in Paris with this sunny weather how crowded some places were, I call it a collective suicide, both for those out and the others” he says. Reasons enough to extend the confinement we’re not soon to escape.
