Published on : 03/24/2020 – 19:27Modified : 03/24/2020 – 19:27
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The containment aimed at stemming the coronavirus epidemic “will probably last at least six weeks” as of its installation, on March 17, said the Scientific Council of the executive in a notice released Tuesday. France has become the 5th country to cross the milestone of 1,000 deaths attributed to the coronavirus, according to figures announced Tuesday.
The coronavirus has caused 1,100 deaths in the hospital since the beginning of the epidemic and 2,516 patients were on Tuesday evening in intensive care, announced on Tuesday March 24 the general director of Health Jérôme Salomon. These assessments reflect an increase of 240 deaths and 434 additional patients in intensive care in 24 hours, out of a total of 10—176 patients hospitalized according to Jérôme Salomon.
The more than 1,000 deaths recorded Tuesday at the hospital “represent only a small part of the mortality” in France, he said. “The two main places of death are the hospital and nursing homes,” he said, announcing the establishment of a “daily monitoring of mortality” in institutions for the elderly “in the coming days “.
All regions of the country are affected, the most affected being “Île-de-France, Grand-Est, Auvergne Rhône-Alpes, PACA, Hauts-de-France, Bourgogne France-Comté, Occitanie and New Aquitaine “, according to the DGS. Some “85—% of the recorded deaths occur at people of more than 70 years” he specified by describing the epidemic as “unprecedented, severe and rapid”.
“Containment, the only truly operational strategy”
Earlier, the scientific council of the executive on the Covid-19 had considered “essential to prolong the confinement” beyond the two weeks initially planned, in a notice made public.
“The confinement will probably last at least six weeks from its establishment” on March 17, writes the Council, which also says “consider it necessary to strengthen the confinement”, without specifying the details. He also underlines that “three weeks (…) are necessary to obtain a first estimate of its impact”.
“Containment is currently the only truly operational strategy, the alternative of a large-scale screening policy and isolation of detected persons not being feasible at the national level for the moment,” say the members of the Advice.
An exit decision “may be taken on the basis of epidemiological indicators indicating in particular that the saturation of hospital services, and resuscitation services in particular, is controlled. The government will also have to ensure that the elements of a strategy post-containment are operational. “
“Full transparency” on the shortage of protective equipment
However, this is only an “estimate among others”, commented the Minister of Health Olivier Véran, without specifying if the government would support it – which is generally the case, did he agreed.
“When the circulation of the virus is controlled, then the lifting of the containment can be tackled,” said Olivier Véran. “If it is possible to raise it earlier, we will obviously do it.”
The members of the Scientific Council also issue a “warning point” on “the real or perceived shortage of various types of equipment, starting with essential health protection equipment”.
They recommend that “the public authorities show full transparency and clarity, in order to answer the questions that hospitals and caregivers are asking about the existing stocks and how the services will be supplied”.
Emmanuel Macron in Mulhouse “to pay tribute to the nursing staff”
On the ground, the mobilization is increasing to relieve the hospitals, in particular in the East: a first patient was admitted in the field hospital of the army in Mulhouse, where Emmanuel Macron will go on Wednesday “to pay homage to the nursing staff “and” show their solidarity with the Grand Est region, which has been severely tested “by the coronavirus crisis.
Thirty other patients will be evacuated Wednesday by TGV to relieve Alsace, the region most affected by the coronavirus. This “medical TGV”, a first in Europe, will be used for the first time to transfer patients from Strasbourg and Mulhouse to regions less affected by the epidemic, announced Olivier Véran before the deputies.
With AFP
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