French President Emmanuel Macron is scheduled to appear on prime-time TV interview on Wednesday night amid a growing number of coronavirus infected cases across European countries, thereby increasing concerns over public healthcare capacity especially as winter is fast approaching.
In the greater Paris area, one of the areas with high infection cases, Martin Hirsch, the head of public hospital group APHP, has warned that up to 90 per cent of the region’s intensive care beds could be possible filled by the end of next week.
Hirsch, who’s currently heading 39 public hospitals in Paris and its suburbs said, “It’s inevitable. By around October 24, there will be a minimum of 800 to 1,000 Covid patients in intensive care, representing 70 to 90 per cent of our current capacity.”
The forecast has now added more pressure on President Macron, who is now expected to disclose a stricter measure to handle the challenging situation during his forthcoming prime-time TV interview by Wednesday night.
In a bid to tackle the current surge, President Macron had a meeting with top cabinet minister on Tuesday to evaluate possible measures, although media reports say a curfew is possible for Paris and other cities with high cases.
Macron isn’t expected to say much about wearing a mask as he during his last TV interview, to mark the Bastille Day Holiday in July made the wearing of face masks compulsory both inside and public spaces nationwide.
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A source very close to the presidency described the present situation as, “a pivotal moment,” while confirming that a curfew is under consideration, but a full lockdown for the capital or other cities is not possible for now.
President Macron is also expected to encourage people to start learning how to live with the coronavirus, over a longer period, to avoid making the situation even worse.
