The French PM Jean Castex will give a press conference in a few mins on what he plans to do about the dozen or so départements (counties) where Covid variants are surging. Weekend lockdowns have already been imposed in the Nice area and Dunkirk. Paris area next? Not yet it seems
It seems the French PM will probably announce “consultations” with local governments in the départements concerned – a broad stripe to Paris from the Pas de Calais, plus Moselle in Lorraine. Weekend lockdowns and other new restrictions may follow
Health situation is deteriorating, Castex says. Over 30,000 cases nationwide yesterday for the first time since November. British variant is now half the cases in France - creating a new epidemic because more contagious than the original.
Castex says there are calls by some scientists for a new nationwide lockdown. It may yet become inevitable, he says, but everything must be done to postpone that day in the hope that vaccines will start to have their effect and make it unnecessary...
Local weekend lockdowns have already been targeted on areas where the epidemic is exploding. He says there are now 20 other departements where the figures are worrying - not just Paris area and the North but also in the Rhone valley and along the Med coast.
These 20 departements will be placed under increased surveillance to see if weekend lockdowns are needed.
Castex now defending the French vax programme. Other countries have been faster, he admits, but France has been more succesful than others in targeting the very old. As a result, cases are now noticeably falling among the over 80's - the most vulnerable.
The vax rollout is about to accelerate, he promises. (We've heard that one before but it's true that deliveries are about to increase significantly). By mid-May, Castex promises, all over 50's in France will have been "offered a vaccination".
Vaxes for 65-74 year olds - the forgotten people in the present arrangements - will start in early April, Castex says. This is a slight delay on previous promises of late March.
Over 65's and under 74's, who miss out at present, will be offered vaccinations from early April, Castex says. This is a slight delay on the previous promise of late March.
Oliveir Veran, the health minister, adds some detail. He says all over 65's who are willing will - he hopes - be vaccinated by the end of March. That's a huge promise, based on the present campaign of an average of just over 100,000 jabs a day. We will see.
Olivier Veran says 35,000 AstraZeneca jabs have been given since they first became available nearly 3 weeks ago. He suggests this is a faster than normal rate. Faster than what normal? It's pathetically low. Over 500,000 AZ doses have been received.
Veran goes on to talk about innovative treatments, including interferon, now being tested, and monoclonal antibodies (the treatment Trump got) which are being used in 83 places in France.
So...In summary, 20 departments where new variants of Covid are booming have been placed under "increased surveillance". Decisions will be made next week on whether to impose weekend lockdowns or other measures in these areas. A nationwide lockdown has been ruled out...for now.
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