“Concordant government sources” told franceinfo that the state of health emergency would not be extended again. On the other hand, caution remains the rule: a bill allowing the State to take new measures in the event of an epidemic outbreak will be presented to the Council of Ministers on June 10.
The government is backtracking. While executive officials and relatives of Édouard Philippe had entrusted franceinfo at the beginning of June that the state of health emergency could be extended after July 10, our colleagues indicate that will ultimately not be the case. Information sent to them by “concordant government sources”. “Prolonging the bracketing of public freedoms was not healthy”in particular estimated a minister questioned by the journalists.
Declared on March 23 to deal with the Covid-19 epidemic, the state of health emergency came into effect the next day, then was extended on May 11. Objective of this exceptional system: to give the Prime Minister the power to take various measures by decree in order to facilitate the management of the crisis. These may be those limiting the freedom of movement and assembly, those of price control, as well as those of requisitioning all the goods and services necessary to put an end to the health disaster.
“Let the people live”
Concretely, the lifting of the state of emergency means that gatherings will no longer be prohibited for health reasons, among others. A revealing reversal of the new government line, strongly driven by the Scientific Council. Its president, Jean-François Delfraissy, speaks out for example against a new generalized confinement, “whatever happens”. “Let the people live”he also told the Sunday newspaperJune 7.
In addition, the team responsible for informing public decision-making is working on lightening the health protocol in force in schools for the coming months. Objective: to determine how the 63-page document “could be a little simplified, streamlined, in the light of current knowledge”. An initiative widely encouraged by the executive, in the person of Jean-Michel Blanquer. “We are watching the evolution of the epidemic, and, depending on that, we are changing the rules. But, indeed, given the current trend, I hope that by the end of June we will have been able to lighten the health protocol”indicated the Minister of National Education on June 6 on BFM TV.
A bill presented on June 10
However, there is no question of relaxing the collective effort. Maintaining the date of July 10 is not synonymous with a return to normal. Until then, respect for barrier gestures, physical alienation and restrictions in force is still relevant. “The situation has improved and continues to improve (but) it is too early to relax our vigilance in any wayrecalled Olivier Véran on June 8, as reported by AFP, whose Le Figaro echoes. Let’s not go too fast, we managed to win a battle through everyone’s effort, a battle that was very difficult to win, we haven’t won the war yet, so be careful”.
In order to ensure that caution remains the watchword, a bill carried by the Minister of Health and that of the Interior will be presented to the Council of Ministers on June 10. Objective: to enable the State to take new measures in the event of an epidemic outbreak. These include the local restriction of the supply of public transport, the establishment of an organized circulation of people and the further closure of certain places. The text will be debated on June 17 in the National Assembly.
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