Expected to speak on Tuesday November 24 at 8 p.m. to address the health situation in France and give further details as for the “adapted” lockdown, President Macron is not considering – so far – lifting lockdown, according to his interview in JDD today.
“Today, the virus circulation level in the country is the same as at the time of curfew. Lifting lockdown is out of the question” he says in the weekly, yet wishing to provide “clarity and coherence” on the situation.
“Nothing is worse than uncertainty and the impression of misery without end. We need coherence, clarity, and an end. To know where we are going together, and how to get there. It is difficult, as the pandemic is inherently unpredictable and global. But that is the key to confidence, which is itself the key to success. There is no fatalism. Crises can be, overall, accelerators for progress. We must be able to meet History. And France has all the qualities needed to do so.”
The JDD’s floor is also given to government spokesman Gabriel Attal. His says “[Relaxing] confinement will happen in three stages depending on the changing health situation and risks linked to certain activities. Firstly, around December 1, then before the end-of-year holidays, then from January 2021.”
He also confirms what Jean Castex announced, naming the derogatory trip certificate will still be required past December 1: “Lockdown will continue, and limits on travel will remain too.” As for the reopening of stores on December 1, the spokesman says “The President is aware of the efforts people are making and the importance of work, but certain establishments, such as bars and restaurants, will continue to see restrictions.”
The spokesman also addressed the vaccines saying France has three contracts “signed, at least three others very advanced and others under discussion”, with “on average 30 million doses per contract”. According to Attal, the compulsory vaccination question “will arise when we know the properties of vaccines”.
He also finds “interesting, in a personal capacity” the possibility of making the isolation of positive cases and contact cases compulsory. “Many of our neighbors have done it and I hear French people who feel they are undergoing constraints that could be alleviated if we concentrate efforts on the chains of contamination”.
