Macron: No extra confinement for senior citizens

The President has acted swiftly after growing unrest by the country’s elderly population in the wake of his speech on Monday. He announced that the vulnerable and the elderly would be asked to remain in confinement after May 11 to avoid the risks posed by Covid-19.

However, the President announced last night that senior citizens will not be restricted as he did not wish to ‘discriminate’ and called on each citizen to act ‘responsibly’ once confinement is lifted.

Read more: Macron: May 11 is start of deconfinement in France

The debate on whether senior citizens should be confined longer has intensified over the course of the week. On Wednesday, Professor Jean-François Delfraissy, head of the scientific committee advising the government, told the Assemblée Nationale that people ‘above 65 years or 70’ should remain in confinement.

He added: "I am extremely clear: if we do not have the prerequisites we must remain confined and if we have to delay by a few days because we are not ready, we will have to delay by a few days.”

The European Union also advises that the elderly and those suffering from chronic diseases must be protected longer, but with no specific details on timescale.

However, the statement last night by President Macron has ended the debate.

The decision was welcomed by Axel Kahn, president of the League Against Cancer. He told FranceInfo: "The prolonged containment of frail people, elderly people and people suffering from cancer or other ailments, risks causing great physical and mental suffering, and can lead to losing the will to live. We welcome the clarifications made by the President.”

However, the advice will remain the same with the elderly and the most vulnerable, advised to remain at home.

The latest official figures reported yesterday, indicate that at least 7,203 deaths linked to the pandemic in France were in elderly care homes (Ehpad).

President Macron is meeting with Ephad officials on Monday, when he will have an opportunity to discuss the matter further.