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Macron extends lockdown in France until May 11th as coronavirus death toll nears 15,000

French President Emmanuel Macron announced on Monday evening the nationwide lockdown would be extended until May 11th as the total number of coronavirus deaths in France reached 14,967. (Paywall free)

Published: 13 April 2020 20:25 CEST

Macron extends lockdown in France until May 11th as coronavirus death toll nears 15,000

This was the third time President Emmanuel Macron held a live speech from the Elysée Palace since the beginning of the coronavirus epidemic in France. Photo: AFP

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“The strict confinement must continue until Monday, May 11th,” the French president said in a live televised speech to the nation on Monday evening.

But he also warned that easing the lockdown then “would only be possible if we continue to be good citizens, responsible and respect the rules, and if the spread of the virus has indeed continued to slow,” he said.

“We are living in a difficult moment, but thanks to our joint effort, we are progressing,” said Macron adding that the epidemic was “beginning to steady” but wasn't yet under control.

France has been subject to a strict nationwide lockdown since midday March 17th.

Macron said the weeks of severe limitation of movement had been crucial in limiting the spread of the coronavirus and needed to be continued to prevent a resurgence of the disease.

“We need to continue our efforts to limit the spread of the virus and especially follow the rules,” he said.

'A new step'

For the first time, the government gave details on how they were planning to exit the current lockdown, which was entering its fifth consecutive week on Tuesday.

May 11th would be “a new step” when schools and creches would be gradually opened, the president said.

Universities would however not resume their classes “before the summer.”

Bars and restaurants would “remain closed” for a longer period and no major event would take place “before mid July.”

France's borders with non-European countries would remain closed for the time being.

Macron said that, starting May 11th, “as many people as possible” should “go back to work to relaunch our industry, our businesses and services.”

'France was not prepared'

He admitted that there had been shortcomings “as in all the countries of the world” and that France had not been sufficiently prepared.

“We lacked gowns, gloves, gel and we were not able to hand out as many masks as we would have liked,” he said.

Tests, masks and an app

Before the country began unwinding the lockdown, France would have developed means to protect the population from the virus, the president said.

Tests, masks and new technology were mentioned as three important factors to ensure that the easing of restrictions could be safely executed.

“Starting May 11th we will be able to test everyone who has symptoms,” Macron said, adding that France by then also would have increased its stocks of protective masks.

“The state should ensure that everyone has access to a mask (by May 11th),” the president said, adding that wearing a face mask could become “systématique” (routinely worn by everyone). But he didn't say they would be obligatory as some mayors around France have decided.

France would also have launched novel technological means to track the virus, notably an application that would allow for users to check if they had been in contact with someone that had tested positive for the virus.

Using the app would be voluntary and user's anonymity would be guaranteed, the government has said.

“A very small minority of the French have been exposed to the virus, we are very far from what we call a collective immunity,” the president said.

He indicated that a vaccine would be the only solution for ending the pandemic, adding there was no evidence of so-called herd immunity among people in France for now.

Economic measures

Macron said he was “aware of the sacrifices” the French were making by staying at home and promised to reinforce measures taken to protect the country's workers.

The government would enter discussions with social partners in order to establish rules that would protect the workers that went back to work.

France would also “extend and reinforce” the economic and social measures in place to help employees and businesses. The “hardest hit sectors” would be able to ask to annul their expenses and students and households in a particularly precarious situation would be able to ask for financial help.

This was the fourth time Macron addressed the nation on live TV since the beginning of the coronavirus epidemic and the third televised speech from the Elysée Palace.

France on Monday reported a slight increase in the number of COVID-19 fatalities over the last 24 hours, with 335 deaths in hospital over the last day, 20 more than Sunday.

Its total death toll from the coronavirus epidemic on Monday stood at 14,967, the health ministry said.

Of these, 9 588 fatalities were recorded in the country’s hospitals and 5,379 in nursing homes.

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Explained: How dangerous are French heatwaves?

A recent report highlighted the potential risks to athletes’ health if this summer’s Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games take place during a heatwave. The report, backed by climate scientists and athletes, warned of the potentially fatal risks of high temperatures at this year’s Games.

While most people are unlikely to be trying to break a 100m record during a heatwave – or any other time in fact – high temperatures bring with them serious risks to health.

Mercury rising

Any temperatures in France are getting higher, the country has endured a series of record heatwaves in recent years.

The all-time temperature record for Paris is 42.6C, set during a heatwave in 2019. It’s entirely possible this record won’t last long – 2022 was the hottest year on record in France, with a record 33 days meeting officially defined heatwave conditions: five in June and 14 in both July and August.

Vérargues, in the southern Hérault département, holds the highest recorded temperature in France – 46C set on June 28th, 2019.

The highest national average temperatures in France were recorded later in the year: August 5th, 2003, saw an average national temperature of 29.47C, followed by July 25th, 2019, when the average daily temperature was 29.4C.

And remember – air conditioning is not standard in French homes.

Health risks

There is no question that heatwaves can be fatal – some 400 people died in France in a two-week heatwave in August 2023 when new local temperature records were set around the country, according to public health data.

Over the whole of last summer, some 5,000 excess deaths were recorded between June 1st and September 15th, 2023, of which 1,500 were attributed to the heat.

Over the same period, nearly 20,000 heat-related emergency calls were recorded, according to a report by Santé Publique France published in February this year, and 10,600 additional hospitalisations followed a visit to the emergency department during periods of high temperature.

The risk is highest among the elderly or people with chronic health conditions, but also at risk are outdoor workers and people exercising – including hiking – during the hottest part of the day.

The government issues weather warnings – ranging from yellow (be aware) to red (potential risk to life) during heatwaves and we would strongly advise people to take notice and follow the advice, even if you come from a hot country.

Climate trends

And it seems that the situation is not going to get better soon, even if the response has improved.

“By the end of the century, heatwaves will be more frequent, more intense, and spread over a period from May to October,” warned France’s Haut Conseil pour le climat (High Council for the Climate) in a report in 2021.

Around 80 percent of the French population will experience 16 to 29 abnormally hot days each year over the three decades to come, as climate change takes hold according to a 2022 study by national statistics institute Insee – with Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Bourgogne-Franche-Comté and Occitanie the most affected regions.

It estimates that more than 9 million people will have to endure more than 20 extremely hot days each year in the years to come. Nighttime temperatures will also rise, with some areas seeing up to 19 abnormally hot nights each year, compared to seven between 1976 and 2005.

The phenomenon of ‘tropical nights’ – where the temperature does not drop below 23C even at night – is linked to sleepless nights and heat stress, as the body does not get the chance to cool itself.

Meanwhile, Santé Publique France’s figures underline the impact of high temperatures during heatwaves, it said, and confirmed the need for measures throughout the country, and for a reinforced strategy of adaptation to climate change, to reduce the impact of heat on health.

The unusual Pentecôte public holiday in France, when many people work ‘for free’ by donating that day’s salary a government ‘solidarity fund’ for the elderly, was introduced in 2005 following the disastrous 2003 heatwave, when more than 15,000 French people, most of them elderly, died in the sweltering temperatures.

Heat islands

The particular problem with Paris – and other major conurbations – is that it is a noted ‘urban heat island’, where temperatures can be up to 10C warmer than in the surrounding countryside, due to a combination of human activities, concrete surfaces that reflect heat, and heat pollution such as air conditioning units and cars.

The phenomenon also leads to significantly warmer nighttime temperatures, as heat accumulates during the day but cannot escape in the same way it might in a less dense environment – making for sticky nights that make it hard to sleep and increase the effects of heat stress, especially among the elderly or ill.

Emergency plans

One thing that has improved in recent years is how France deals with its heatwaves.

After 2003’s fatal summer, the French government introduced new protocols to protect the public whenever the temperature rises above a certain threshold.

Today, when the temperature soars, the government issues health advice on staying safe, which includes: drinking plenty of water to stay hydrated, staying indoors during the hottest part of the day (afternoon and early evening), keeping in the shade, exercising only during the coolest parts of the day (early morning and late nights) and eating regular meals.

Most cities now have heatwave plans. Parks stay open at night and ‘cool rooms’ open up to give those in at-risk groups a chance to be taken somewhere they can cool down.

Fire risk

Extreme temperatures and long periods without rain also increase the risk of wildfires.

The year 2022 was the worst on record for wildfires in France. In total 72,000 hectares, or an area seven times the size of Paris, burned over the summer.

Overall, 90 percent of fires are caused by humans – either deliberately or accidentally. But while casually throwing away a cigarette is objectively dumb, heatwaves can – and do – increase the risk of fires.

Where weather conditions do have a major effect is in turning what would perhaps have been a containable fire into a wildfire that devours thousands of hectares of ground and prompt evacuations.

High temperatures make it more likely that fires will start, but drought conditions cause these fires to spread – parched vegetation with no moisture catches extremely easily. In the height of summer, large parts of the south of France are particularly at risk of wildfires.

This is far from a new phenomenon. It’s why there has always been a wildfire ‘season’ in the hottest months of the year and why wildfires are much less common – though not unheard of – in winter.

In October 1970, 11 people died in a wildfire near France’s far southeastern border with Italy and in 1985 an inferno in the same area killed five volunteer firefighters.

Deaths are more unusual today, thanks to improved techniques and technology, but the fires themselves are getting more common, bigger and occur over a wider geographical area.

Poor air quality resulting from wildfire smoke can be a serious health risk to those with respiratory conditions.

If you live in an area where wildfires are common, make sure you sign up to the government emergency text alert system so you get the latest advice on whether you need to evacuate. You can also keep track of the risk of wildfire in your area by checking the government’s forest fire map, which is updated daily.

And you have legal obligations, too, relating to keeping your property as clear as possible of fire hazards during key wildfire periods.

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