Amid the current health crisis, and as many places are still closed, and that hundreds of events this summer have been cancelled to curb the spread of coronavirus in France, the “Comité Adama” has been calling for weeks for a “massive national gathering” of the French.
Now in France, if containment exit is going well, and that the Covid-19 epidemic is withdrawing, gatherings, meetings, and activities over 10 people are still banned in the public space, at least until the end of the health emergency planned for July 10, 2020. This ban could be extended to November 10, 2020.
Interviewed on Tuesday June 9, 2020 by BFM TV, the Secretary of the Interior said “protests are in fact not [allowed] […]. But I believe the global emotion, that is a healthy emotion on the subject, exceeds the legal rules that are implemented”.
Therefore, is it reasonable to protest amid the current health context, how to stay safe and limit the risk of aggravating the crisis?
According to epidemiologist Catherine Hill, the risk is not negligible: “I can fully understand people feel motivated to go on a protest, but this is not very wise today. The risk depends on the proportion of people carrying the virus, that we have no idea of, and on walking by new and different people in a protest”.
Anyway, it is important to keep at any moment barrier gestures enabling to limit the spread of covid-19 that, for the record, is mainly transmitted via spit we spray when talking, coughing or sneezing, and that can fall on our hands or items around us.
Therefore, it is highly recommended to wear a facemask as soon as you are in the public space, and to keep at least one-meter distance with people around you. Moreover, do wash your hands regularly with soap or hand sanitizer.
