PARIS – French President Emmanuel Macron yesterday announced nationwide school closures and a limited lockdown while defending his controversial strategy to confront soaring Covid-19 infections.
The 43-year-old has been under fire from political opponents and many health experts in recent weeks, as the rampant coronavirus leaves hospitals in hotspots, including the capital here, overwhelmed.
At the end of January, Macron bucked the European trend and went against the recommendation of his scientific advisers by deciding that France would not enter a third lockdown.
In an address to the nation, he tightened restrictions significantly yesterday, ordering schools to shut down, travel restrictions across France, and the closure of non-essential shops nationwide.
But, he stopped short of demanding people stay home or avoid socialising completely, and authorised residents to move between regions for the upcoming Easter weekend.
“We have adopted a strategy since the beginning of the year that aims to contain the epidemic without shutting ourselves in.”
Not locking down in January meant “we gained precious weeks of liberty, weeks of learning for our children; we allowed hundreds of thousands of workers to keep their head above water, without losing control of the epidemic”.
The question in the coming days will be whether the new measures are enough to reverse the sharp rise in infections, which have been running at more than 40,000 daily – double the level at the beginning of the month.
More than 53,000 new cases were announced late yesterday, but that number covers two days after no figures were made public on Tuesday.
The country also recorded another 304 virus deaths, bringing its overall toll to 95,667.
With warm weather and sunshine yesterday, groups of young people were seen congregating in public spaces around Paris, ignoring rules barring the consumption of alcohol outside.
Ahead of Macron’s address, the French Hospitals’ Federation urged him to order “a strict lockdown immediately”.
‘Vaccinate, vaccinate!’
Macron said current efforts to limit the virus “were too limited at a time when the epidemic is accelerating”, and warned that the spread of the more contagious British variant means “we risk losing control”.
He said from Monday, nurseries, kindergartens and primary schools will close for three weeks, while high schools will shut for four weeks, but this includes two weeks of spring holiday.
For the next four weeks starting Saturday night, travel restrictions will be imposed across the country, and non-essential shops will shut in line with measures already implemented in coronavirus hotspots, he said.
But striking a more optimistic tone for the medium term, he said some cultural venues and cafe terraces will reopen in mid-May “under strict rules”.
“Thanks to the vaccine, the way out of the crisis is emerging.
“We will do everything to vaccinate, vaccinate, vaccinate! Without rest, without holidays. Saturday and Sunday, just like in the week.”
Macron is also on the back foot over France’s vaccine roll-out, which has been dogged by a chronic shortage of doses due in part to a centralised European Union purchasing system that he championed.
He said the country is sticking by its target to vaccinate all those above the age of 18 who wish to be, by the end of the summer.
All those over 60 will be eligible from April 16, and those over 50, from May 15. – AFP, April 1, 2021
