Thread by @kimwillsher1

French PM Jean Castex is giving his weekly Covid press conference.
"Circulation of virus has accelerated...linked to English variant that represents 60% of contaminations in the country".

Evolution of situation:
Virus has continued to progress, but slower than feared. In last 7 days, 1.4% increase in last week, when it was 14%+ the previous week. "It's clear we're not faced with exponential increase of epidemic".

Reduction in contamination of elderly people -17% in last week, mostly due to the vaccine. "It's obviously a good news". But...
More worrying, health establishments still under strong pressure. 25,156 people still in hospital with the virus. 3,647 in I/c.

"Not a massive increase, but shows that pressure is not easing..." Castex.
Second worrying element is the contrasting situation in different French territories.

Castex says 20 French departments on "heightened alert"...in these virus continues to progress except for Bouches de Rhone and Moselle. In the rest the level of contamination is above 250 per 100,000 population.

Analysis of last figures, has led to four new measures:
Weekend lockdowns - currently in effect in Nice and Dunkirk - will be extended to the entire Pas de Calais. 8am Saturday to 6pm Sunday with closure of hypermarkets.

There needs to be supplementary measures in other areas:
Big commercial centres more than 10,000m/2 will be closed.
Masks to be worn in all urban areas.
Prefect will ban or regulate access to sites where people are gathering at weekends.
"I understand people want to go out ..."

...the weekend, but the scenes we saw expecially in Paris are not acceptable," Castex says.
Vaccination will be accelerated in the 23 worst departments from this weekend.
"We are collectively making the effort to reduce our social and family contacts..."

Reminder: no more than six people. "We ask you to observe this rule in the next few weeks."..inhabitants of 23 departments are encouraged not to leave their department unless strictly necessary.

Castex: "Some asking why government is not going further and locking down these 23 departments: even limited weekend lockdown is a heavy measure."

"I repeat again, we have to do everything to avoid a lockdown."
Where are we with the vaccine.
3,2m people vaccinated. 1.8m have had 2 doses. These are the most at risk of developing the "worst forms of the virus".

France is leading in Europe in vaccination of the most vulnerable, Castex says. "We have already crossed a difficult stage with the most at risk populations...80+ of those in nursing homes have had first injection and 60% have had both doses".

Castex: Vaccinating this at risk population is a "real success", he says. "We now need personnel of these establishments to be vaccinated. Too few have done so and I encourage them to have the vaccine."
Deliveries of doses of vaccine will increase over the next few weeks.

Astra Zeneca: "The high health authority has indicated on international scientific evidence that the 65+ and those with conditions risking a serious symptoms.
"It is a very efficient vaccine," Castex says. UK experience has show it is used on millions of people and as...

...the Pfizer and Moderna."
If we get deliveries, we should have 20m people vaccinated by mid May and 30m by the summer.
Who can be vaccinated how and where?
65+ open since 18 January in vaccination centres reserved by internet.

28% of 65+ have received a first dose. "I know many of you haven't been able to get a RV and I understand your frustration. But the doses are arriving in stages and we cannot do everyone at once. You have to be patient, but don't worry, you WILL be vaccinated."

New vaccine centres will be open.
For 50+: open to be vaccinated if you have underlying conditions. To be vaccinated you have to contact your GP. More and more GPs are proposing the vaccination.

Castex: 50+ with underlying conditions, from 15 March vaccines (AZ) will be available in pharmacies. "This is a major new step".
"The vaccine will happen as for the flu jab, you won't need a prescription".

50-64 years with no particular condition you can be vaccinated from mid April. Under 50 you can only be vaccinated if you have a serious health condition. The health workers are eligible for vaccines but few have taken up the vaccine.

"Progression of deliveries will allow us to increase the rhythm of the vaccinations. Doses have to be used as quickly as possible. 135m new doses will be delivered from tonight in those departments placed on high alert".

"Everyone has to be on the bridge EVEN AT THE WEEKEND...it's a race against time and we need everyone mobilised," says Castex.

Health minister Olivier Véran up now. "Vaccinate with security has been our stated priority for some time..."

Acceleration of vaccinations: 200,000 carried out today, 60,000 by AZ. More vaccination centres to be opened this weekend so vaccines can be administered "all the weekend". (Note: this has been a particular criticism of the govt. and health authorities).

Véran: GPs giving vaccines and soon pharmacies will be able to deliver the vaccine. 800,000 vaccines delivered last week to GPs. 1.5m patients will receive first injection from their GP. These doses must be given as quickly as possible and not "sleep in pharmacy fridges".

Véran: "We must move quickly...the decree allowing pharmacies to give vaccines (from mid-March) will be published tomorrow."
"Not everyone can be vaccinated this weekend - we don't have enough - but our aim is to accelerate vaccinations."

Saliva tests have been deployed in schools, creches and various other public establishments.
Véran says at the slightest doubt or symptom, get yourself tested, then isolate. "When you are sick or a contact case you avoid entering in contact with anyone else."

In France, we have decided not to make isolation obligatory. "The success of isolation depends on each of you..."
Quoting a studying saying the best way of stopping spread of covid is respecting protection measures, distancing and isolation.

People working from home are 30% less likely to catch Covid, he says. "If you have symptoms, don't wait for result of your test, don't go to work...if you have doubts, stay home."

Isolation is happening too slowly in families, with people waiting for results of tests and thus spreading it to others around them. "Limit contact, respect isolation and stop this virus".
Care workers: 40% of those in nursing homes and 30% overall in health system.

Véran: "Clearly this is not enough...if you are a care worker, you have a responsibility to yourself and your patients..."
He is again vaunting the merits of the AZ vaccine.
Tomorrow he is going to write to all health workers to encourage them "strongly" to get vaccinated.

"It is necessary for health workers to be vaccinated...I am convinced we will see more doing so," Véran says.

Paris GP Dr Marie-Laure Alby is now talking about local doctors giving the vaccine.

Says organisation is "complex" as vaccine has to be delivered in certain conditions and given within a time limit.
She says she has 1,600 patients, 400 of whom are priority cases and she hopes to vaccinated 50 per week. "It's a hopeful phase..." Says people calling every day...

CORRECTION: 135,000 doses to the high risk departments.

...to ask if they can be vaccinated. Dr Alby is calling for all health workers to be vaccinated. "Come all of you, home workers, nurses...it is very important to protect the people you are caring for and also your families as quickly as possible."

Castex back at the lectern: Says he understands what people have gone through over last 12 months but adds: "We have progressed...and we have learned."
Lockdown is "not impossible, but it is not inevitable".

Even more calls for respecting of social distancing, meetings, especially this weekend as the weather improves and everyone wants to go out.

Now answering questions:
Will we be returning to a more normal life by mid April as government spokesman said yesterday and ...

...what is a "more normal" life?
How has the UK vaccinated 22m people? What are you doing with unused AZ doses.
Castex, says if vaccine programme goes as planned more than 10m people should have been vaccinated by mid April. European comparisons are limited, he says.

Basically, Castex is saying because France is concentrating on vaccinating the most vulnerable, the objective of mid April is possible.
AZ question. Véran says 60,000 AZ doses in the country right now, they won't all be used at once.

Doses are not "sleeping in fridges" in hospitals, they are there for health workers to be vaccinated.
Véran says we know Spring is less favourable for the spread of the virus so this along with vaccination means we could think "mid April, end of April, beginning of May...

...perhaps a relaxing of constraints".

Another question on stocks of AZ vaccine. Doctors saying they are cancelling appointments...what's this about?
Can chemists vaccinate more if there are more than 10 doses in a phial.

Now a question on why the number of infections and deaths continue to be high?

Véran: GPs have been offered to "reserve" a certain number of vaccines. If there is not enough they have to be "rationed".

In 95% of cases the vaccines are delivered on time, to the right place and where needed, Véran says adding chemists have said some doctors have not come to collect vaccines they ordered. They can either give them to other doctors, or soon they will be able to do it themselves.

If there are extra doses, they can give to anyone, with vulnerable as a priority, but the important thing is they are not wasted.

As for contamination and death figures, Véran admits these have stopped diminishing, and in these areas, extra measures are being taken.

Castex says France cannot vaccinate even its most vulnerable population in a day.

There was a question about police not sticking to the rules: Castex says he is aware of certain cases and investigations have been launched.

Castex says there has been "overall, respect for the regulation" in France. He is giving figures for the number of fines for non respect of curfew, distancing, illegal parties etc., and says fines have been increased to make them "more dissuasive" from €135 to €500.

Véran: perspective on vaccination rate among health workers. "I'm sure it will rise...I'm convinced the time of reticence is behind us. It's not a French problem...I profoundly believe it will improve. I will write to everyone, to say what the nation owes them since a year...

"The combat will be even more successful if they get vaccinated...I think that will be enough. If it is not, we can envisage an ethics committee to see if we have to go further (compulsory vaccination of health workers).

And it's bonne soirée from Jean Castex and Olivier Véran.

CORRECTION: 50-74 AGE GROUP