Prime Minister Jean Castex unveiled, this February 25, 2021, the departments in enhanced vigilance against the coronavirus. These very affected areas could take local measures soon.
The epidemic situation worsened in February 202, according to contamination indicators. This has already led some regions to take more restrictive measures than the 6 p.m. curfew, in force on national territory since January 16, 2021. This is the case for the cities of Nice and Dunkirk, which were the first to announce weekend lockdowns, with implementation the week of February 22, 2021.
On February 25, 2021, Jean Castex warns at the national level. 20 territories are placed under enhanced surveillance with maximum vigilance on contamination indicators. In these territories, the virus is accelerating, the spread of variants as well and hospital pressure is being felt.
Which French departments are under "enhanced surveillance"?
- The whole of Île-de-France is concerned (Paris, Essonne, Hauts-de-Seine, Seine-et-Marne, Seine-Saint-Denis, Val-de-Marne, Val-d'Oise, Yvelines)
- A large part of Hauts-de-France (Nord, Oise, Somme, Pas-de-Calais)
- Part of the Provence-Alpes-Côte-d’Azur region (Alpes-Maritimes, Bouches-du-Rhône, Var)
- The departments of Rhône and Drôme, Moselle and Meurthe-et-Moselle, and finally Eure-et-Loir.
- Mayotte and Reunion
For all these territories, the Prime Minister has "asked the prefects to initiate consultations with the elected officials in order to immediately invite all the inhabitants to the greatest vigilance and to consider, in all or part of these territories, braking measures similar to those put in place in Nice and Dunkirk ".
Asked by the Parisian, Roger Salamon, epidemiologist and former president of the High Council of Health, public warns: "We must delay as much as possible a national confinement, not only does it screw up the economy, it deprives us of freedom, but it is not the right solution in terms of health since once lifted, the virus starts to rise again . " The sequel to the next episode, with new measures announced on March 6.