11,000 people are part of the traveling community in Gironde. – Frederic MARVAUX / AFP
- Accustomed to moving very often, Travelers have to face confinement like all French people.
- A difficult situation to manage for the community but also for the ARS which has taken specific measures in the region.
- The associations have also strengthened their system to respond to all concerns.
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Confinement is a hard time to live for all French people. But for some, it may be even more complicated. Among them, the Travelers. Extremely mobile in normal times, the community has had to face like everyone else for two weeks the new traffic rules with a watchword from the authorities: stay at home!
“It’s really very difficult to live with,” explains Hélène Beaupère, director of the AVAD (Departmental Association of Friends of Travelers in the Gironde). In recent days, his phone keeps ringing, and his association has increased its working hours to respond to the greatest number because “if there is no more physical contact today, you have to multiply the others …”: “The situation is very complex because we have 31 reception areas at home but only a quarter of the people live there. Many live on other habitat areas or on precarious land. Sometimes they don’t have water, internet … “So it’s not easy to keep up with the health of the whole community. Fortunately, thanks to their networks and those of the authorities, the associations have managed to maintain a link for the time being.
“They are very dignified and respectful”
It is essential in particular to relay information: “We know almost all of them. We talk to them, we keep them informed of the situation. We repeat, repeat and repeat … Like everyone, they are afraid of this virus and are affected. Behaviors must be adapted, ”recalls Hélène Beaupère. The whole community is being followed very closely by the prefecture services but especially the Regional Health Agency which pointed out “a concern” at the end of last week in certain areas.
Coronavirus: 6 confirmed cases in a Travelers camp in Cagnes-sur-Mer https://t.co/vEuODIUjv8 pic.twitter.com/wTSWEK7i4y
– France 3 Côte d’Azur (@ F3cotedazur) March 28, 2020
Travelers are not immune to Covid-19. According to the prefect Fabienne Buccio, there have been confirmed cases in particular at Taillan-Médoc and currently two people are hospitalized. A moment “even more complicated for them to live with, says Hélène Beaupère, because in normal times the whole family goes to the hospital when one of their own is not well, even if it is not necessarily a good thing . It’s a real strain for these people. But they are very dignified and respectful. The authorities, for their part, ensure compliance with the confinement rules by the 11,000 members of the community in Gironde.
A special ARS device
At the medical level, ARS Nouvelle-Aquitaine has been implementing reinforced support measures for several days with the very wide dissemination of health recommendations. It also “in each community present on their territory identified one or two referents” in collaboration with field associations.
[[# COVID2019]Situation on March 29
???? Prevention measures and care for Travelers
???? Hydroxychloroquine self-medication and risk of cardiac toxicity ⚠️
???? 163 new confirmed cases, 558 hospitalized, 58 deaths
???? Read the press release: https://t.co/R3qE7Hx2AR pic.twitter.com/yKyYL83Wst– ARS Nouvelle-Aquitaine (@ARS_NAquit) March 29, 2020
When a suspected or confirmed Covid-19 case is identified, the Regional Health Agency responds as quickly as possible to prevent the formation of a “cluster”. A doctor from the health authorities is dispatched, masks are available if necessary and a mobile health team from the hospital center or local clinic can be mobilized at any time. This system should help reduce concerns.
But these are not only medical, the director of the ADAV also has to face many questions on the economic level: “There are many small structures, many wonder how they will survive this crisis. What are their rights? “But for the moment,” everyone is going in the same direction, according to Hélène Beaupère, and this is the most important because that is how we will all get out! “
