PARIS, April 26 (NNN-AGENCIES) — French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe will present the government’s plan to unwind the country’s coronavirus lockdown to parliament on Tuesday, followed by a debate and vote, his office said in a statement.
The lockdown ordered by President Emmanuel Macron to slow the spread of the virus has been in place since March 17 and is due to be lifted on May 11.
Macron is aiming to ease some of the lockdown measures then with schools reopening first, although the government has yet to finalise how it might work in practice.
France has also offered retailers some relief by saying it wants them to reopen on May 11, though some curbs could remain in certain areas to delay a new wave of the coronavirus.
France reported 369 more coronavirus deaths on Saturday, a lower toll than in previous days, with the number of people in intensive dropping for the 17th day in a row.
While 22,614 people have died from the virus in France since the beginning of March, health officials said the mortality rate in hospitals was the lowest in a month, with 198 deaths in 24 hours.
However, 171 died in retirement and care homes, and officials said they were worried by an increase in critically ill patients suffering from other conditions.
More than 7,500 people are now being treated in the intensive care units across France – which is 50 percent more than the country’s total capacity before the epidemic struck.
“The rise in the number of patients in intensive care shows the necessity for those with chronic diseases to be looked after as well as taking care of those in emergency situations,” a statement said.
“If the care… (of those with chronic problems) is interrupted for a long time, their illnesses will become more serious.”
Officials urged people with chronic diseases who are sick not to be afraid of contacting their doctors or medical carers. — NNN-AGENCIES
