France Likely to Remain in Confinement for at Least a Month

(Bloomberg) --

Parisians are unlikely to have picnics by the Seine anytime soon.

France’s measures to contain the coronavirus pandemic by largely confining citizens to their homes could be extended beyond the planned 15 days, according to French health agency Sante Publique France.

The rules, aimed at limiting social contact, may have to be in place for at least a month to allow authorities time to assess their effectiveness, the agency’s chief Genevieve Chene said on Thursday.

“An extension will likely be needed,” Chene said in an interview on France Info radio. The speed of the propagation “highly depends on the respect of individual and confinement measures,” she said, adding that the rate of contagion should slow in two to four weeks.

France entered a lockdown on Monday, whereby residents could be fined for leaving their homes for reasons not deemed essential. Trips to work are allowed, but most people are encouraged to work from home, except those working in grocery stores and logistics to make sure the population can be fed.

The epidemic is worsening in the country, with 89 confirmed new deaths in 24 hours. On Wednesday, health authorities said half of patients in intensive care are under 60.

Even as new evidence suggests that younger adults aren’t as impervious as originally thought, Chene cautioned that most severe cases still mostly affect elderly or people with pre-existing health conditions.

The country confirmed more than 9,000 cases, with the northeast of France and the Paris region particularly hard hit.

©2020 Bloomberg L.P.