Coronavirus: Edouard Philippe, « I am convinced that our country can face this crisis »

Thursday evening, the Prime Minister was invited by TF1 to address the main questions posed by the development of the coronavirus pandemic and the containment measures applied since March 17.

First, before talking about the intervention of Prime Minister, Edouard Philippe, we will make a global raid on the evolution of coronavirus in Europe and the United States during the last 24 hours, but also up to date statistics .

The new coronavirus pandemic continued to change the face of the world on Thursday, which now has more than a million infections, 51,000 lives cut, the majority in Europe, and social consequences that are expected to be dramatic.

One million officially declared cases of new coronavirus worldwide were cleared at around 3 p.m. on Thursday, according to an AFP count from official sources.

At least 1,000,036 cases of infection, including 51,718 deaths, have been detected in 188 countries and territories, including the United States (234,462 cases, including 5,607 deaths), where the pandemic is currently progressing most rapidly, in Italy (115,242 cases), the country hardest hit in number of deaths with 13,915 deaths, in Spain (110,238 cases, of which 10,003 died) and in China (81,589 cases, of which 3,318 died), cradle of the pandemic .

The number of cases diagnosed, however, only reflects a fraction of the actual number of infections, with a large number of countries testing only serious cases.

If 500,000 cases have been identified in Europe, the continent most affected, the United States is on the way to becoming the new epicenter, with 215,000 cases counted. In the absence of sufficient screening capacities, these assessments are very likely far below reality.

The subject of a frantic race between biotechnology companies, serology tests, which will say in particular if someone can return to work, « are being developed » and « are not yet evaluated, » said the World Health Organization.

In France, the balance sheet jumped again on Thursday with 471 new deaths in hospital bringing the total to 4,503 dead, but to which must now be added at least 884 elderly people who died in retirement homes.

The scale of the drama in these four countries, which have each exceeded the official death toll reported for mainland China (3318) where the epidemic had declared itself, raise a posteriori suspicions about the authenticity of the Chinese figures.

But it was Spain which again lamented the heaviest losses on Thursday with 950 deaths in 24 hours, a new record in the country, which also registered in March more than 300,000 new job seekers.

In France, the official death toll has increased to 4,503 dead (at the hospital), to which must now be added at least 884 elderly people who died in retirement homes. In total, at least 5,387 people died.

More than 3.9 billion people, or half the world’s population, are now called or forced to stay home to fight the spread of COVID-19, according to a count made Thursday from a database of AFP data.

This threshold of 50% of humanity (7.8 billion, according to the UN) was reached after the introduction of a curfew in Thailand (from Friday).

In Africa, Togo has established a state of health emergency for three months and Eritrea confinement for 21 days.

In Russia, President Vladimir Putin has extended the principle of days off imposed for a week until the end of the month, leaving regional authorities responsible for fixing the terms of confinement. The city of Moscow, the main home in the country, extended the confinement for a month.

Going into the details and responding to the various controversies aroused by this large-scale health crisis, he also admitted a certain fallibility: « It can happen that I am wrong, which is never simple, » he said. recognized at the end of his very long speech, punctuated by questions from journalist Gilles Bouleau and French people selected by the channel.

After the East, the epidemic is now sweeping over Île-de-France, where more than 9,600 people are hospitalized. « We are at the end of our hospitalization capacity, » warns Aurélien Rousseau, director of the Regional Health Agency. He spoke of a “real risk” of a shortage of certain products, morphine or antibiotics, with an “overall tension” on the curare – necessary to immobilize intubated patients.

Édouard Philippe assured that France had « something to hold sustainably » in terms of stocks of drugs, but recognized that it was necessary to ensure « very short term » management on certain products. Especially since the competition for drugs and protective equipment is as global as the epidemic, as the regional presidents have moved, evoking orders for masks bought by Americans « on the tarmac » of airports Chinese from where they were to be shipped to France.

The Prime Minister is first asked about the situation in the nursing homes, where 884 deaths have been reported since the start of the pandemic in France. “The people in the nursing homes are among the most fragile of our fellow citizens. There are 750,000 French people living in nursing homes. Our main concern is to try to protect them, « he said.

Among the measures put in place, the Prime Minister mentioned the implementation of the blue plan, the prohibition of visits or the use of a certain number of tests. He called tonight « to mobilize caregivers so that as soon as a case is identified, we can project medical resources in the nursing homes if necessary ».

He finally praised the “dedication of the staff of Ehpad” since the beginning of the crisis.

The head of government went on to say that the virus is « not on vacation ». « Confinement is not about moving to France. If our fellow citizens do this, they will spread the virus. I call on all of our fellow citizens to respect the rules of containment, « he said. And to hammer: « There should not be a departure on vacation in the coming days ». « The worst thing would be for this discipline to weaken, to wane. Everyone must assume that staying at home, respecting the rules, is helping caregivers and allowing us to pass this delicate course.  »

Edouard Philippe assured that « the death toll stems from the progression of the epidemic before confinement ». « The indicator that we are looking at the most carefully is the number of resuscitation admissions. I salute the extraordinary mobilization of the whole system, the organization of hospitals as a whole, « added the Prime Minister.

He welcomes the mobilization of the hospital and the strategy of transferring patients from one region to another: « The hospital is under great pressure. It still stands by an exceptional human commitment, with great difficulties. It holds because we are fighting and because we do not relax the effort of containment. The French must continue to respect confinement ”.

The Prime Minister is also confident in the capacities of French hospitals: « We are in a long, hard fight, but the dyke holds and we must all together make sure that it continues to hold. Our hospital system holds, we must be collectively up to the task. You have to follow the instructions ”.

Asked about a possible shortage of drugs, such as curares or oxygen, in the intensive care unit, the Prime Minister said that it was « one of the most sensitive questions we have to face today ». “All over the world what is happening in France is happening. This means an increase in the number of patients admitted to intensive care. And therefore a use of drugs that explodes in proportions never imagined. For some drugs, we face an increase of 2000%, imagine! ”, He continued.

The head of government indicated that, for a certain number of molecules essential for resuscitation care, stocks were « either sufficient in hospitals, which have a large quantity, or in industrialists ». On the other hand, the concern remains for other molecules whose stocks are more « limited ». « My priority is to make sure to meet demand, » he said, indicating that in recent days he has contacted several manufacturers.

Asked about the consequences that could be drawn from this crisis in the coming months, the Prime Minister said that it will be necessary to « give the hospital the means to reorganize itself over the long term after the epidemic ». « We will have to draw the consequences of this epidemic while being aware that no health system has been designed to deal with an epidemic of this importance, » he said, however.

The Prime Minister is now addressing the issue of deconfinement. The latter is « not for tomorrow morning, » he said. « It’s the logic of containment that should prevail at least until April 15 and maybe longer, probably longer. »

What strategy will the government adopt to deconfine? « We are thinking, » replied the head of government, referring to several unknowns: « Will there be a recognized treatment that can be prescribed and limit the impact of the disease? How are we going to get out of this phase with regard to the circulation of the virus in the French population? If in the Great East, the virus has circulated a lot and many people have developed asymptomatic forms. If it’s a big part of the proportion, it’s not the same as if it’s a very small part, « he listed.

And to continue: « We are going to massively use serological tests which do not exist today in number. We are developing them. They are used to find out if antibodies have been developed. You will need to be able to develop massive tests to find out who has been affected by the disease. We are thinking about several possible scenarios. A team works within the Ministry of Health, with Jean Castex, to coordinate these teams to present them to the public and discuss them. The question is essential on a national level. How do we decide to live in deconfinement with a disease that has not completely disappeared? ”

Only one certainty: « This deconfinement can only occur gradually. To avoid that then, two weeks, three weeks, a month, we are hit by a second wave which will force us to carry out confinements. It’s delicate. We will find the right methods and solutions, and coordinate with other countries. ”

The Prime Minister kicked in the door: « I do not know how to answer your question and I do not prefer to give false hopes and false indications ».

Regarding the possibility of sorting the population, and deconfining young people first, the Prime Minister confirmed that the hypothesis had been raised by thinking that it could be a way of « gradually deconfining » but that this posed questions « practical, sanitary and ethical ”.

Asked about the same question, Professor Karine Lacombe said first to wait to know how many people were immunized: « These people will represent a barrier to the progression of the virus. Depending on the percentage of the general population that has been immunized, we will not apply the same barriers ”.

The government is now studying « several options for the 2,020 bac ». In « continuous monitoring » or « with the organization of an event ». The Prime Minister assumes it, the final form of the examination will be decided according to the conditions under which France « will organize the deconfinement ».

The Prime Minister then returned to the organization of the 2020 Baccalaureate, which was to take place in June. He indicated that it is « now completely acquired » that the Bac exams « will not be able to take place in June, nor in July as it was mentioned ». The “annual machinery” that this diploma represents will not be able to be implemented in good conditions, and, beyond that, the interruption of classes “will have an impact on everyone’s ability to respect the entire program”, he said.

The Prime Minister has indicated that he leans towards a rating « in the format of the total continuous control of the first two quarters », but it is also possible that a test organized at the end of June supplements this continuous control. Jean-Michel Blanquer should specify “very soon” these modalities.

The Prime Minister promised to « speed up the opening of an ultra-modern facility at the Henri-Mondor hospital », in the « course of April » to be able to receive intensive care « 86 additional patients » from half April.

Faced with very strong criticism of government action in this area, Edouard Philippe defended the measures taken. « We have been very much criticized for saying that the wearing of masks in the general population was not necessary, » he recognized, before justifying himself: « I listen to what the doctors say. The WHO executive director of emergency programs continues to say that wearing a mask in the general population is not necessarily a good idea. I don’t dare say it myself anymore because I know I immediately arouse criticism and doubt. ” He also promised that French production of masks would be strengthened. « There are four producers of surgical masks in France, » he said. « We will be 10 million a week in the coming weeks, » he added, welcoming « an industrial movement quite admirable ». Large orders have been placed in China, which are sometimes not honored, « for reasons of high demand. » The Prime Minister recalled that « the consumption of masks is much higher than we imagined, because the virus is very highly contagious ». For the general population, cloth masks « have been tested on a test bench of the general delegation for armaments, » said Edouard Philippe, promising a production of up to 5 million per week. These models, not intended for caregivers, will « resume activity when the time comes, » said Edouard Philippe.

« The worst thing would be to raise taxes, » warned Edouard Philippe, while admitting that the debt would explode.

The debate is now focused on the economic impact of the coronavirus crisis. Asked about a potential tax hike in the future to offset the exponential spending that is happening right now, the Prime Minister assured that this was not the option.

« The health crisis will become an economic crisis because the brake is so brutal and lasting that we will have to help the country to start again. We have to organize for the country to hold, for businesses to survive and for a national recovery plan, European I hope, to allow the entire world economy to start again. But that will not go, I think, through an increase in taxes ”, he detailed.

To overcome the health crisis, the state will grant loans. Money is « no more magical than it was two years ago, » he said. « The economy stopped with stocks. When we start, these are stocks that we will consume. The state will have its role to play. I want us to be able to think about this revival with our partners. There will be a lot to think about and decide, « he added.

Édouard Philippe indicated that it was not « at this stage that the question had to be asked. We have to get through the crisis, but it is true that we will have to borrow, that when the time comes we will have to face the choices we make today.  »

« The urgency is to get through the health crisis, then it will be to restart the economic machine. For that, companies must not die. ” The Prime Minister said that the partial unemployment system put in place was « the most generous in Europe. It is essential if we want to keep the necessary muscle.  »

On the pension reform, Philippe assures that « we must suspend what can justify disagreements which do not have to be ».

The pension reform is not stopped but suspended, certified Edouard Philippe. “We are in an unprecedented crisis. In this never-before-seen crisis, we do not all agree. Knowing the French people, we will not all agree. We have to suspend as much as possible which can justify disagreements which have no place to be. The call for national unity is a call to try to put aside what can separate us, « he said.
The Prime Minister assured that the results from the first round for 30,143 municipalities which have already designated their municipal councils would be preserved. On the other hand, it will be necessary to « reorganize two rounds of municipal elections for the approximately 5,000 remaining municipalities ». « If we realize that it is not possible to organize the second round in May or June, then we will have to postpone the elections, maybe in October, maybe after, » he said. indicated.
« I am convinced that our country can face this crisis »

« I am trying to be clear about the difficulties we face, the few perils we still have to get around or overcome, » said the Prime Minister.
« More than an optimist or pessimist, I try to be focused. I always have in my heart the fierce will to move forward, to make difficult decisions on the basis of information that is sometimes incomplete or contradictory. So there can be times when I’m wrong, ”he admitted.

« I am convinced that our country can face this crisis. When the French are faced with the harshest, they can often prove to be courageous, united, determined. It is not over, it will continue and it is still difficult but we can do it, « concluded the Prime Minister.

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