From General de Gaulle to the writer Maurice Genevoix, author of “Those of 14” on the fighters of the Great War, this beginning of the week will be for Emmanuel Macron that of the tribute to “heroes who managed to stand in the test »(Says the Elysee). Commemorations (Editor’s note: this Monday in Colombey for the 50th anniversary of the general’s death and Wednesday November 11 with the entry of Maurice Genevoix to the Pantheon) placed under the theme of “resilience” or, as defined by the presidency, “the ability of the French to withstand the tragedy of history, to always recover”. The allusion to the present tense is transparent. The gauge of these ceremonies – thirty people, as for funerals – reminds us of “the tragic” of the news.
Certainly, Olivier Véran spoke of “a form of slowing down in the progression of the epidemic” this Sunday on France Inter. But this is only a decrease in the speed of propagation. However, insists the Minister of Health to the Parisian, “the number of cases must drop as significantly as possible, there we are not”. And we will have to wait to assess the effect of the measures taken by the government, and therefore to know more about the rest. “We hope to reach the plateau, but there is no guarantee. Next weekend only, we will see if there is a drastic impact of the confinement, ”explains one at the Elysee.
In other words, the days to come will be crucial. You only have to hear this minister: “There, we are going to be in the hard of the peak. A specter haunts the spirits. “If this week doctors start sorting out patients, we are moving into something else …” blows an adviser to the executive. When an executive of the majority adds: “It’s going to be the week of the death. Our subject will be not to have deaths in the corridors. “
“If it starts again strong, yes, there is the hypothesis of a turn of the screw”
On the program for the week: in addition to the weekly meeting of ministers devoted to Covid-19, around the head of government, Jean Castex, a series of meetings on tests and vaccines and a Defense Council on Thursday or Friday. Beware, the government cannot afford to repeat the hiccups and boondoggles of days gone by. Friday, a meeting of government communicators notably reminded everyone that the period required “to be united” … Especially since there is no political consensus.
At the top of the State, we are nevertheless pleased that this confinement is “globally ultra-majority respected”. But opening of schools and public services oblige, the country is not however under bell as in spring. And the debates are lively. What about so-called non-essential businesses? “We can’t tell yet. It is too much to see the results, even if the figures are still very high, ”one replies at the Elysee. However, the executive reserves the right, in the event of a positive development in terms of health, “to do it on a case-by-case basis, by type of business, subsequently”. What about a tightening of containment? “If it starts again strong, yes, there is the hypothesis of a turn of the screw, admits the entourage of the president. Everything is on the table: closing high schools, reviewing the position on schools, public services, teleworking… There is a whole range. In positive, as in negative. “
The uncertainty hovering over this week, in terms of looking further ahead… “Nobody knows what the situation will be at Christmas. Everything will depend on what we observe and the impact of the measures ”, agrees Olivier Véran. Even the calculators of the Ministry of the Economy are preparing for all eventualities. “We cannot rule out a dark scenario. Bercy is not there to predict the duration of the confinement, but the State must be prepared for the worst. And in the worst case scenario, we reserve the means to finance aid to businesses until December 31 in case the confinement lasts, ”explains the Minister for Public Accounts, Olivier Dussopt. Question of “caution”, he says.
Original article by : www.leparisien.fr
