Each epidemic wave comes with a challenge. When the coronavirus epidemic first peaked, the world seemed taken by surprise, and it was then necessary to face a virus it knew very little about. In France, the second wave was a genuine economical issue as the Holidays were just around the corner. Is it true to say “things always come in threes”?
Because the third wave is very challenging. Despite launching the vaccine campaign, the threat of more transmissible variants - likely to be more deadly or resistant against the current vaccines - could change things. France has to curb an "epidemic within the epidemic" in order to limit the spread. Could it lead to another lockdown?
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Since January 16, 2021 as France already experienced the first shivers of a third wave, the entire country is placed in early curfew - from 6 p.m.. So far, this measure was limited to departments with an incidence rate over 200 cases for 100,000 inhabitants. Even though Santé Publique France has already unveiled the first conclusions as for the effectiveness of this restriction, results on a nationwide basis are to be known this week.
But what to expected in the event curfew fails? The shadow of another lockdown once again spreads over France. If this measure is considered, the final decision is not to be made before Wednesday. If the decision goes for a lockdown, how could it be?