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HEALTH

Macron promises new ‘regional decisions’ in fight against Covid-19 second wave

French president Emmanuel Macron has promised that decisions will have to be taken and new measures announced on Friday to try to stem the steep rise in Covid-19 infections across the country.

Macron promises new 'regional decisions' in fight against Covid-19 second wave
AFP

Fears of a second wave of the epidemic have been rising in France, with the number of new cases surging even though the death rate remains low compared to spring highs.

On Thursday president Macron said the government would take the necessary decisions to give the public an idea of what the weeks ahead will hold.

The government's defence council are due to meet on Friday after which new measures are expected to be revealed.

Suggesting new and stricter measures will be brought in on a local level where the virus was circulating more rapidly Macron said the decisions would be taken on a regional basis (déclinées territorialement).

But he vowed not to concede to any kind of panic.

“What we need to do is to adapt to the evolution of the virus and try to slow its circulation with hygiene measures and adapting our social lives,” he said.

“We need to be able to continue to live, educate our children and care for other patients and illnesses and to have a social and economic life,” he added.

On Wednesday, health authorities reported a further 8, 577 new infections and Scientific Council head Jean-Francois Delfraissy told reporters that current infection rates were “worrying”.

The government may have to take “a certain number of tough decisions” he said, probably within 10 days.

“France is now at a worrying level which is not far behind Spain, with a lag of maybe two weeks, and much more severe than that of Italy,” Delfraissy told the news briefing, which was held online.

The fact that new cases had not yet swamped the health system might have created “a false sense of security”, Delfraissy said.

As well as over 8,500 new cases the number of intensive care patients suffering from coronavirus rose to 599 on Wednesday – a steep increase of 71 from the previous day.

In all 5,003 patients with Covid-19 are being treated in hospital in France, a rise of 386 on Tuesday.

Four regions in France are badly hit by the resurgence in infections – the greater Paris region of Ile-de-France, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur in the south, L'Occitanie in the south west and Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes in the centre.

IN NUMBERS: How fast are France's Covid-19 rates increasing?

Scientific Council head Jean-Francois Delfraissy. Photo: AFP

'Exponential rise'

The warning from the Scientific Council comes a day after Prime Minister Jean Castex entered a seven-day period of self-isolation, having spent part of the weekend with the boss of the Tour de France who tested positive for Covid-19.

There was the danger of a “very rapid, exponential rise” in some places, Delfraissy said, singling out the French Riviera and Provence region.

Some French regions could see emergency services overwhelmed in coming weeks if no fresh measures were taken, he said, adding any new steps taken required two weeks to have an impact.

Local lockdowns?

The French President Emmanuel Macron and his ministers have repeatedly made it clear they are opposed to a repeat of the nationwide lockdown imposed in March due to the devastating impact it would have on the economy.

Authorities will consider possibility of introducing local lockdowns especially hard-hit areas such as the southern port-city Marseille, where spiralling coronavirus rates prompted an upsurge in the number of patients in hospitals and intensive care units.

Health Minister Olivier Veran said the situation would be a matter of discussion during Friday's defense council meeting and that nothing was ruled out for Marseille or any other area with rising rates.

“We will look at all indicators for the epidemic situation and make any proposals that could be necessary,” Veran said.

In Paris, critics have slammed bars for not complying with rules of compulsory face masks for anyone moving around their establishments, after videos emerged of unmasked people dancing closely together, even while nightclubs have been prohibited from reopening. 

Some called for police to ramp-up controls or even close establishments, a power local authorities achieved when the interior ministry bumped Paris up to a red zone of high level of coronavirus.

READ ALSO What does it mean if my département in France is a red zone?

 

The Scientific Council's Delfraissy, meanwhile, spoke out against closures of bars and bans on crowds, saying “that is not going to solve the problem”.

The government may also have to become more forceful in some areas about imposing confinement measures for infected people and those they have been in touch with, he said, although this was not for now an official recommendation.

People at high risk because of old age or health problems including diabetes, obesity and respiratory issues may require a protective “bubble” around them, according to the council which advises the government on its Covid-19 policy.

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LIVING IN FRANCE

5 tips to have the best possible night at France’s Fête de la musique

It can be the most fun day of the year - when France goes music crazy and bands suddenly appear on every street corner - but there are some tips to make your Fête de la musique experience as good as it can possibly be.

5 tips to have the best possible night at France's Fête de la musique

First, a caveat – this is an entirely personal manifesto based on the things that I have enjoyed over my Fête de la Musique outings over the years. It’s not intended as any kind of hard-and-fast rule and plenty of people will have different experiences.

Feel free to disagree and/or share your festival tips in the comments section below!

1 Ignore the big-name artists

There are always a few big-name artists or concerts in major venues on the Fête de la musique (which happens every year on June 21st).

Ignore them. Sure, stadiums gigs can be great and huge venues can have a wonderful atmosphere – but you can do that any night of the year. It’s not what Fête de la musique is about.

The true spirit of the Fête is the smaller acts who play on street corners, in bars and community venues. They’re free, you can wander between them and stay as long as you like – and there is always something else around the corner.

2 Ignore the big towns

You might think that the big cities have the best music, but if you have the choice, go for a small town or a suburb.

I’ve enjoyed some good Fêtes in Paris, but the best experiences had have been smaller towns or the Paris’ suburbs (Montreuil is good – a commune that carefully cultivates a small-town / village vibe, albeit a very diverse small town where everyone is a hippy, a leftist, or both).

It’s partly a practicality thing – in big cities the acts are spread out and you have to make plans to see something and meet up with friends. In small towns, you just wander along to the main square, then when you’ve seen the acts there, you can saunter up the side streets, each of which will have dozens of bands playing, pausing only to grab a beer and snacks.

But it’s also the vibe; in big cities you can hear good live music all the time and the population is consequently complacent – small towns truly appreciate the Fête de la musique and properly go wild.

Once, in Paris, I was watching a blues band play in the street when a woman tipped water on their heads from her apartment window because she was tired and wanted to go to sleep. Small towns appreciate it when bands play for them.

3 Experiment

There’s a lot of variety on the night, so take advantage – this is your opportunity to hear all kinds of live music from rock to swing, jazz to classical, choirs to DJs.

Didn’t think that a five-piece oud band is your thing? Fête de la musique may change your mind. It’s the night of the year when anything goes, musically, so it’s also the night to try something new.

If you hate it – well it’s free and there’s another band down the street that might be more your thing. But you might discover a lifetime passion for oud music – in fact, by this time next year you might be playing in the oud band. Thanks to the Fête de la musique.

4 Don’t insist on quality

You’ll hear some great bands, but you’ll also hear some that are more about enthusiasm – and that’s all part of the fun.

You’re going to be hearing everything from classic rock to reggae to blues to the above-mentioned five-piece oud band, and as well as the styles the quality may be variable to.

For me, the true spirit of Fête de la musique is the 50-year-old accountant rocking out on his guitar and enjoying the one night of the year when he can dream that if only he hadn’t given up on his high school band, he could now be rich, famous and selling out stadiums, as opposed to filing tax declarations in an office above the florist.

5 Dress comfortably

Some people like to dress up for the Fête and that’s great – it’s a party after all – but the key thing is to wear something that is comfortable and allows you to shake your stuff.

Yes, you will be dancing – you’ll be dancing on street corners, in parks, cafés and perhaps on street furniture if things really get going, and you’ll be dancing with kids, dapper 70-year-old gents and everyone in between.

You need comfortable shoes and clothes that you can really move in.

Dance like no-one is watching. They may be watching, but they won’t be judging. Much. It’s Fête de la musique.

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