Why French media is talking of confinement extension

It comes after the director of the national health agency Santé Publique France, the official organisation which follows the health crisis and counts the number of cases in France every day, said that an extension may be “necessary”.

Director of Santé Publique France Geneviève Chêne added that the results of confinement will be visible in the “next two-four weeks”.

She said: “If we follow the rules of all the barriers of distance and confinement, it is likely that we may be in a different situation from Italy.” Italy has just announced an extension of the home confinement, until April 3, after a record death toll of 475 people in the last 24 hours. The death toll has now reached 2,978 in the country.

The reversal of the peak of the epidemic in France could occur “between the first and second month”, which means mid-May or at the end of May, Mrs Chêne said.

However, Mrs Chêne stressed that at the moment: “This is pure speculation. It is too early to say anything about the evolution of the epidemic.” The situation could still evolve differently.

Previous stories:

France may extend confinement as Covid-19 ‘worsens’

France issues 4,095 fines for breach of confinement

France confinement form: Clarification

France widens Covid-19 drug tests amid vaccine search