As the Easter celebrations are coming, France is entering a decisive week. The coronavirus epidemic is more and more worrying in schools and hospitals, especially in Île-de-France where health professionals are sounding the alarm. The prospect of a new strict lockdown seems to be more and more likely. A new health defense council has been announced already for this Wednesday March 31, 2021.
Coronavirus: defense council on Wednesday, June 2 on vaccinating teenagers and decontamination
While the coronavirus epidemic seems to be slowing down in France, a new health defense council is meeting this Wednesday, June 2, 2021, to study the 3rd phase of decontainment and vaccination during the summer and teenage vacations. What can we expect? [Read more]
In this decisive week, two major issues make the news. The first one being schools where the spread of Covid-19 is worrying. In Drancy, Lycée Eugène Delacroix teachers have called for the closure of the high school as 20 students have lost a parent since the pandemic broke out. In Paris, elected representatives call for pending vaccination of teachers. Île-de-France region president Valérie Pecresse offers to move school break forward. A new and reinforced health protocol has been instated since Monday March 29, 2021 in schools set in departments in lockdown: from now on, as soon as one contact case is proven, classes must close. But stronger measures might be made, including the closure of schools but only as a last resort.
September 2021's school start: health protocol in schools, junior high schools, and high schools
What is the health protocol in schools, junior high schools, and high schools starting from September 2021? This July 28, 2021, the Minister of the National Education addressed the issue, unveiling the "health framework" instated in schooles and classes starting from Thursday September 2, when school starts again. Compulsory facemask indoor, classes closed only in elementary schools and vaccination non compulsory for teachers; keep reading to find out more. [Read more]
Covid-19: an ever-expanding infection toll in schools, concerns increase
The latest data shared by the National Education Ministry on Thursday November 12, 2020 show that the number of children who tested positive for Covid-19 in schools have multiplied by three in barely a week. Santé Publique France data show that 259 clusters are currently investigated in schools and universities, out of 1,280 reported. A high criticality rate in comparison with the other communities, dropping by 24%. [Read more]
The other major issue is hospitals. Now France is approaching the second wave’s peak in terms of ICU bed occupancy; in Île-de-France, AP-HP crisis directors have sounded the alarm, stating the Île-de-France hospitals’ occupancy will be exceeded in a matter of two weeks. Consequences? Doctors might have – and for the first time – to sort covid and non-covid patients out.
Coronavirus in Île-de-France: hospitals to be overwhelmed within two weeks, ICU patients to be sorted out?
Île-de-France coronavirus epidemic situation worsens. According to AP-HP crisis directors, the hospital pressure is such they might be overwhelmed within two weeks. Doctors then may have to sort ICU patients out. [Read more]
Covid: the second wave’s peak almost reached with circa 4,900 patients in ICU
The hospitals’ health situation grows worrying by the day. As of Sunday March 28 evening, 4,872 Covid-19 sick were hospitalized in intensive care units; a data all the more so worrying it is now verging on the peak of the second wave reached this past Fall. [Read more]
Coronavirus: younger sick hospitalized in ICU, clear increase in admissions
As the positive effect of vaccination starts being noticeable in nursing homes, more and more young people are hospitalized in intensive care units. There are even twice as many of patients under 50, and without comorbidities since January 2021. Over the past eight days, the phenomenon has been increasing, so much that the regional health authorities and the government are highly concerned. [Read more]
So, the health situation in France might leave no other choice to the executive but tightening measures and even up to nationwide lockdown. So far, the government has chosen to go for local measures. But the spread of the coronavirus epidemic in the country – improved by the spread of the UK variant – is such that actions chosen this week are decisive. Furthermore, the first effects of the measures already instated are to be assessed by the weekend.
Coronavirus: towards strict containment despite local measures?
As the coronavirus epidemic gathers pace, the government opts for local restrictions. But will this be enough to save France from another strict national confinement in the spring of 2021? [Read more]
Containment: departments at risk of tighter restrictions
As the coronavirus epidemic continues in France, the government has decreed local containment in 19 départements. However, the list could well grow longer. So which departments will be confined next? Here's what the latest figures show. [Read more]
