The coronavirus has changed the lives of the French. Since the start of the epidemic, two lockdowns have been put in place: the first from March 17 at 12 p.m. to May 11, 2020 (1 month and 25 days) and the second from October 30, 2020 to December 15, 2020 (1 month and 18 days). With the new English and South African variants, the rise in the number of hospitalizations in France (25,686 patients on Wednesday January 20, 2021 according to figures from Public Health France) and the increase in patients in intensive care (2,852 patients with severe forms of Covid -19 still according to Public Health France), the question of a third confinement has been raised for some time. "Tighter restrictions seem inevitable in the short term", explain on Thursday January 21, 2021 our colleagues from BFMTV, who keep the information of a "important government official".
The government wants to give the curfew (recently brought up to 6 p.m. across France) some time to take effect, but it will be "difficult to escape a general reconfinement in fine". "Not tonight, probably not next week", underlines Philippe Corbé, head of the political service of BFMTV.
The two probable scenarios
Still according to this same source, two scenarios could be implemented: the first would be to wait until the situation is serious before taking action and re-defining. The second possibility is to contain preventively in order to keep schools open. "If you close the schools, you put the economy in a carafe", in fact explained this same source.
Various economic sectors that are already severely affected could still suffer from this re-containment. Among them, culture and catering. Chef Philippe Etchebest is also increasing the rants on this subject in the media, in an attempt to change things, to no avail. "Even at 5,000 cases per day, it would be difficult to reopen restaurants", added this government official.
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