French President Emmanuel Macron has apologised for his government ‘not being prepared enough’ for the coronavirus pandemic, as he extended the country’s lockdown.
France was put under lockdown on March 17 and will remain so until May 11, Mr Macron announced tonight during a TV address to the nation.
The head of state said the measures would be enforced as strictly as possible for another month but insisted that ‘joyous days were ahead’.
His comments came as another 574 people died overnight, including those who have died in nursing homes, bringing France’s death toll to 14,967.
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Speaking from the Elysée Palace in Paris, Mr Macron said: ‘We must therefore continue our efforts and continue to apply the rules.
‘The more they are respected, the more lives will be saved. This is why the strictest confinement must still continue until Monday May 11.
‘This is the only way to act effectively during this period. This is the condition for slowing the spread of the virus even further, succeeding in finding places available in intensive care and allowing our caregivers to rebuild their strength.’
Mr Macron admitted there had been a lack of face masks and antibacterial gel, while medical workers ‘did not have enough protective equipment.’
‘Mistakes were made,’ he said. ‘Were we sufficiently prepared? Obviously not – no one is prepared for a crisis of this magnitude.’
Mr Macron said medics would be able to test everyone with symptoms by the final day of the lockdown.
Warning that the end date was not guaranteed and may have to be reviewed again, Mr Macron said: ‘May 11 will only be possible if we continue to be responsible civic respecting the rules and that the spread of the virus has actually continued to slow.’
However, the president added that from the final day of the nation-wide quarantine, authorities will gradually start to reopen nurseries, schools and universities but that classes won’t ‘physically resume until the summer’.
‘The government, in consultation with the government, will have set up special rules to organise time differently, to protect our teachers and our children with the equipment used for students in higher education,’ he added.
Mr Macron said borders with other countries would remain shut until the crisis was resolved.
The president’s speech came after figures showed the lockdown is starting to have an effect, with the number of hospital admissions starting to plateau.
There are a total of 137,875 confirmed cases in the country, which is currently the fourth worst-hit in the world behind the US, Spain and Italy.
Additional reporting by Peter Allen.
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