Macron under fire as doctors condemn ‘chaos’ of new measures
Experts admit that second phase is about to tighten its grip after record daily toll of 10,500 infections
FRENCH doctors appealed to the public to avoid social and family gatherings after the government shied away from introducing Uk-style restrictions despite France’s accelerating surge in coronavirus cases.
Concerned by the record daily tally of more than 10,500 new infections on Saturday, leading doctors made the call in an open letter in the Journal du Dimanche newspaper yesterday.
“Avoid private gatherings as much as possible,” they wrote, citing the example of Birmingham’s ban on households mixing. “Limit the number of people present. Postpone where possible.”
Stressing that the pandemic is “entering a new phase”, they added: “There is probably little time left to act collectively.”
The government of President Emmanuel Macron came under fire from doctors for its “chaotic” approach to the coronavirus pandemic after choosing to avoid new national restrictions, likely to prove unpopular. With deaths still relatively low compared with the peak in March and April, many members of the public think further restrictions are unnecessary.
A government source said: “Some ministers wanted at least local lockdowns, but there is an acknowledgement that France just can’t afford to shut down the economy again, even if it would only apply to the regions worst hit by the virus.”
Jean Castex, the prime minister, appealed instead to people’s “sense of responsibility and civic duty”.
Mr Castex, who had to self-isolate earlier this month after testing positive, said: “We will have to learn to live with the virus for the next few months.”
Mr Macron said the government’s strategy was “to make [people] responsible without blaming or infantilising them”. But doctors are criticising its failure to follow scientific advice to introduce new restrictions, with 42 of France’s 101 administrative regions now classified as ‘red zones’ where the virus is circulating actively.
“Individual responsibility is important but it isn’t enough,” said William Dab, a former head of the national health agency.
After a three-hour crisis meeting of key ministers on Friday, the prime minister asked local authorities to come up with measures appropriate for their regions this week. But many regional leaders and officials are now demanding a national plan.
The government source added: “Elected local officials... can’t say they want Paris to stop deciding everything and then demand national regulations.”
‘Some ministers wanted at least local lockdowns, but... France just can’t afford to shut down the economy again, even if it would only apply to the regions worst hit by the virus’