Thread by @kimwillsher1

Once again, I'm going to put my listen-translate-type skills to the test for tonight's important Covid press conference. This is a warning: it may not be elegant, it will not be verbatim, but I will be doing my best, so apologies for errors, clumsy translations et al...

We have heard that the PM Jean Castex is going to get vaccinated with the AZ vaccine tomorrow.

Jean Castex is at the lectern. He has his spectacles.
"15 days ago I told you of my worries about the new progression of the virus...we have 30,000 new cases for yesterday, 35,000 today. It's a third wave.

This 3rd wave is due to the "British variant" which is now 3/4 of new cases. Is more contagious, virulent and dangerous.

Each day 330 more people being admitted to hospital. I/c more young people...this is even more worrying. Situation is getting worse. Our responsibility is now to ensure it doesn't run away...

Castex: "We have accelerated vaccination including at the weekend (!). We are reinforcing our strategy...more restrictions in areas that are the most affected. 23 departments are on high alert, lockdown from 25 February in Nice, Dunkirk and from 6 March in Calais...

Castex says there is an overall worsening of the situation but it is particularly worse in certain departments. In Ile de France the pressure on hospitals is "very high". 1,200 people in i/c in French region, this is higher than the peak last November.

Castex says they have increased beds so there are places for 300 more. "Our responsibility is that the situation does not overrun us..." Weekend lockdown in Alpes Maritime and Pas de Calais has had a "real effect"...

...but has not broken the chain of contamination, Castex admits. "Faced with acceleration of virus and pressure on our hospital services moment has come to go further and harder..."

Government has consulted local councillors. There will be new measures in 16 departments from Friday evening at midnight for four weeks. It won't be a lockdown like March and November last year. "We have learned".

This will not be a national lockdown as last March. Since January govt has opted for a strategy different from other European neighbours ie no national lockdown which would have been "excessive" and "untenable".

In 16 departments concerned by new measures:
*schools will remain open
*lycées will work with half classes
•universities will continue as now
•sports must be resumed in school and out

Shops and businesses IN THE 16 DEPARTMENTS CONCERNED
*only essential shops including books and music to remain open
*going outside from home: new rules but more supple than last March and November.

Concretely:
*you can go out to walk, take the air and do sport, no limit of time but 10km from home and with an attestation.
*no inter-regional travel
*curfew maintained as now except it will now be 19h from Saturday.

Sorry to be clear. In the 16 departments subject to stricter rules people can go out, walk around do sport; there won't be a time limit but this must be done within 10km from home and people will have to carry an attestation.

Castex now talking about the 29% of cases emerging from workplaces. Objective is for workers to do 4 out of 5 days of work from home. Travel from home to work via public transport is ess at risk than car-sharing because people wearing masks in public transport.

*less at risk

Reminder: this is not the whole of France but 16 departments. Castex says it's hard for people in those departments. Measures are "balanced and necessary...they will put a break on the virus without constraining us too much".

Castex: the new rules will be in place for the next four weeks unless there is a noted and confirmed improvement in the situation. April: vaccination of most vulnerable. For a year we have had restrictions to beat the virus. Aim is to reduce restrictions...

...and return to a more normal life. Vaccines, says Castex, are key to this. Daily vaccines in France among the highest in the EU. France has almost finished vaccinating those in nursing and care homes...

Castex: "I insist on one point more 75+ have to be vaccinated...there are still places for vaccination available. Our campaign was slowed by suspension of AZ vaccine to wait for EMA decision. It was a precaution in France like many other European countries. We have few ...

..."suspicious cases in our country. It was a precautionary meausre but necessary . AZ vaccine is efficient...but also safe and without danger. The AZ vaccine is not linked to increase in blood clots. No proof of a problem with certain lots of vaccine or sites of production.

"...these are rare cases...often in the under 55 year old." From tomorrow French health authorities will give advice to those getting AZ vaccines. AZ vaccines will resume tomorrow afternoon." Castex says he will be vaccinated tomorrow afternoon.

IMPORTANT: France will resume vaccinating people with AZ from tomorrow afternoon.

Castex: "Those who are not eligible for the vaccine at the moment will soon be able to be vaccinated. 50+ without underlying conditions from mid May." J&J vaccine will be available from mid April.

Vaccinations will be given "every day of the week, including the weekends. You can be vaccinated at your GPs, the chemist or a vaccination centre..."

"It's a race against time...and we will win it," Castex says.

Olivier Véran, health minister up at the lectern...

Véran is talking about what you need to do if you are diagnosed positive with Covid. Stay home, isolate, tell your GP..."

Véran is getting technical about what will happen to you if you have Covid and how you will be treated in hospital etc.,

Véran says some non-essential operations are being cancelled and postponed "for some weeks and in some cases for several months". Some Covid patients need to be subject to "health evacuations" to other areas.

This, he says, is complicated. Sometimes it's far away and families don't agree. It also needs experienced nurses to accompany.

Veran: sometimes we get contaminated without virus without knowing why. So respect barrier and protection measures. If you have a symptom even without a positive test "stay home".

Castex back on camera: "All European countries have the same suffering and restrictions as we do. We have to do everything we can to stop the virus as we have done up until now: pragmatic, proportional and territorial based measure.

"We are confronted with a third wave of this epidemic that doesn't seem to want to go away. The big difference with previous waves, is that we have a persepctive: that perspective is vaccination and it changes everything...

In short: GET VACCINATED (sorry, that's me shouting!).

Véran says this is not exactly a "third lockdown" and that principal is to distinguish between being locked in with family and being able to go out. Government is prioritising the "going out" because there are fewer risks outside.

The new curfew comes into effect from this weekend. It will be 7pm not 6pm until 6am. An extra hour to get the shopping in.

Castex and Véran are taking questions. AFP journalist asks: "Only 20% of French trust the AZ vaccine, shouldn't it be opened to other people?"
Castex: "the attractiveness of AZ has dropped and appointments have been cancelled...

Castex: "I am responsible for the distribution of this (AZ) vaccine. We suspended it to restore confidence. The EMA has declared, we have to above all have trust in this vaccine and all vaccines. Pfizer and Moderna are absolutely new technology. People were reticent...

"...in the beginning about them." Now, he says, people want the new technology vaccines.
Véran explaining it's important to prioritise vaccines because these are people who will take up hospital beds.

Veran says soon France will be able to vaccinate other people. France expective 2m doses of Pfizer to arrive each week in April when the vaccine programme will be transformed.

Castex: "Obviously there will be a slow return to trust in AZ. But I stress, no dose is to be wasted (hinting that if people don't want it, it can be given to non-priority)."

IMPORTANT: 16 departments in lockdown from Fri. midnight:
Aisne (02)
Alpes-Maritimes (06)
Eure (27)
Nord (59)
Oise (60)
Pas-de-Calais (62)
Paris (75)
Seine-Maritime (76)
Seine-et-Marne (77)
Yvelines (78)
Somme (80)
Essonne (91)
Hauts-de-Seine (92)
Seine-Saint-Denis (93)
1/2

Val-de-Marne (94)
Val-d'Oise (95)
2/2

This is very much "lockdown-lite". Parisians had feared a weekend lockdown and not being allowed out at all.
Not much changes in city. Non-essential shops to close, cafés, restaurant, entertainment and culture venues remain closed and curfew remains though now 7pm start.

*brake