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HEALTH

Four more French cities placed on Covid-19 ‘maximum alert’ level

Four more French cities have been placed on 'maximum alert' level because of the number of Covid-19 cases, and will therefore be forced to close all bars.

Published: 8 October 2020 18:02 CEST
Updated: 9 October 2020 10:47 CEST
Four more French cities placed on Covid-19 'maximum alert' level
French health minister Olivier Véran. Photo: AFP

The metropole areas of Lille, Lyon, Grenoble and Saint-Etienne have joined Paris and its suburbs and the Aix-Marseille area on maximum alert.

The designation is given to places that have a high number number of cases, a high number of cases among vulnerable people and more than 30 percent of intensive care beds occupied by Covid-19 patients.

The new designations will take place from Saturday morning and will see the closure of all bars in those areas, although restaurants can remain open under strict new conditions.

The bar closure will be for an initial 15 days, although it will only be lifted if the health situation in the area has improved.

Two other areas – Toulouse and Montpellier – were described as “worrying”. Health minister Olivier Véran, in his weekly briefing on Thursday evening, said that if their numbers did not improve in the coming days they faced going onto maximum alert from Monday.

“The health situation in France, alas, is continuing to worsen,” Health Minister Olivier Veran told the nation in a live broadcast on Thursday evening as France recorded another 18,129 Covid-19 infections and 77 ore coronavirus-linked deaths.

“Every day in France, more and more people are being infected, more and more are falling ill, and more and more are suffering serious effects that require hospitalisation.

“The epidemic continues to deteriorate in France, like it does in several European countries.

“When I say that each French person can make a difference, it’s to say that we need to be vigilant at every point during our daily lives,” he said, urging the French population to rigorously respect the government's health rules such as handwashing and social distancing.

The French government is trying to avoid another nationwide lockdown of the type the country saw in March and April, which did major damage to its economy.

Instead it has created a system of local alert levels. Each level carries with it restrictions, from a limit on wedding guests at the lowest level to the closure of bars, gyms and sports centres in places designated 'maximum alert'.

For full details of restrictions for each alert level: France's Covid-19 alert system explained 

“For the metroples, Lille, Grenoble, Saint Etienne and Lyon, we have decided to bump them up to maximum alert,” Véran announced.

 

The designation was expected, and French media had reported on Wednesday that all four areas had breached the thresholds set to declare an area on “maximum alert”. These are; 250 active Covid-19 cases per 100,000 of the population, 100 cases per 100,000 among the elderly and vulnerable population and more than 30 percent of beds in local intensive care units occupied by Covid-19 patients. 

 

Toulouse and Montpellier were also seeing worsening Covid-19 numbers, he said, but had not yet reached all the three thresholds set to label an area as on “maximum alert”.
 
“In the case of Toulouse and Montpellier, we are giving it a few days to observe the development of the health situation and see if the criteria are met,” Véran said.
 
If the numbers in the city's intensive care units increased and the situation worsened in the coming days, the two cities would, as was the case in Paris last week, be bumped up to “maximum alert” with restrictions entering into effect as of Monday, he said. 
 
Two other cities were added to the “heightened alert” level, the level below maximum, they were; Dijon and Clermont-Ferrand, which join Bordeaux, Rennes, Rouen and Nice on the heightened alert level.
 
There are now 72 départements on the lower level of 'alert' with Mayenne and Lot-et-Garonne added to the list. The départements of Morbihan and Nievre however were removed from the list on alert.
 
France is approaching its October school holidays, the Toussaint break which begins on Saturday, October 17th, for a week.
 
Asked whether it would be possible to go away during the school break, Véran said the government had decided not to limit travel between cities.
 
“We are not in a situation like we were a few months ago when we decided to restrict travel,” he said, adding that “travelling from one area to another is not likely to bring the virus from one area to another.”
 
He did however add a message of caution: “We must remain very careful during the holidays, the summer period showed us that. The Toussaint holidays are often spent with the family, my message is even stronger: protect yourself, protect the others.”
 
Asked why crowded public transport means such as the Metro would keep running while bars had to close, Véran said public transport “helps us get to work.”
 
“The question of bars, alas, is more complicated, they are sources of clusters, studies show it,” he said.
 
The subject of bar closures has been a controversial one. Initially areas on maximum alert were forced to close all bars and restaurants, but after meeting delegates from the hospitality industry the government rowed back on that and decided that only bars had to close.
 
A bar is defined as a business where the primary business is selling alcoholic drinks, even if it also offers food.
 
 
 

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HEALTH

The French government scheme that helps cover the cost of therapy

The French government launched 'Mon Soutien Psy' in 2020, in an effort to help people afford psychological care. In June, the scheme will be expanded.

Published: 29 May 2024 15:03 CEST
The French government scheme that helps cover the cost of therapy

What is ‘Mon Soutien Psy’?

It is a scheme that allows anyone aged three and over who is suffering from anxiety, depression or mental distress to benefit from psychological support sessions, the cost of which is partially reimbursed by the state.

Currently, people can benefit from up to eight counselling sessions in a year with the assistance of Assurance Maladie, as long as the appointment is done with a psychologist registered to the scheme. 

Previously, it has been difficult for people to find an available psychologist due to high demand. However, with the changes coming into effect on June 15th (increasing the price per session and the number of sessions covered, as well as removing the requirement to visit a doctor for a referral beforehand), the government hopes it will be more accessible.

That being said, patients must use the psychologists who are registered with the scheme, and as a result, English-speakers may be limited.

READ MORE: Ask the expert: How to find an English-speaking therapist in France

Who can participate?

Anyone who is “anxious or depressed; feeling unwell; with a smoking, alcohol or cannabis problem; or struggling with an eating disorder” can participate.

It is not intended for patients in emergency situations – ie those risk of suicide or dealing serious psychiatric issues. They will be referred to a psychiatrist or specialised facility.

How does it work?

As things stand in May 2024, the patient must first visit a doctor. This normally would be your GP, but it can also be any other doctor ‘charged with your care’, including other local GPs, paediatricians, geriatricians, and more.

After evaluating you, the doctor can give you a referral (courrier d’adressage) to a psychologist. This step will change in June 2024, and patients will be able to consult registered psychologists directly.

You can find the list of participating psychologists (HERE) to make an appointment.

Your first session will be for evaluation purposes. The psychologist will then determine the number of follow-up sessions (up to seven, but soon to be increased to 11) based on your needs. 

How much is reimbursed?

As with other medical appointments in France, you pay the practitioner and later receive a reimbursement. 

The reimbursement rate is 60 percent, and the remaining 40 percent is either out-of-pocket or covered by your complementary healthcare plan (mutuelle).

The fist session costs €40, and the follow-up sessions currently cost €30. However, starting in June 2024, they will be increased to €50 in an attempt to attract more psychologists to participate in the scheme. They will remain reimbursed at the 60 percent rate.

READ MORE: Health insurance in France: What you need to know about a mutuelle

If you are in the following situations, then you do not have to pay anything up-front.

  • Beneficiaries of the Complémentaire santé solidaire scheme ;
  • Beneficiaries of state medical aid (AME);
  • People with disabilities or long-term illnesses (Affection de Longue Durée – ALD) 
  • Pregnant women (from the 6th month of pregnancy);
  • People under care in connection with an accident at work or occupational illness.
How can I get reimbursed?

In the coming years, the system will be incorporated into your Carte Vitale, so you will not need to mail in any reimbursement forms.

However, as things stand, you must request a feuille de soins at each session and mail it into Assurance Maladie to get your reimbursement. You would also send this to your mutuelle, depending on your situation.

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