It’s not popular with many elected officials, including the Mayor of Nice, but there is an extension of the weekend partial lockdown in the coastal strip of the Alpes Maritimes to this upcoming third weekend.
This has been confirmed by government spokesman Gabriel Attal in his announcement after France’s Council of Ministers had met.
J’ai réuni ce soir le Conseil Scientifique qui m’accompagne depuis le début de cette crise afin de faire le point sur la décision du gouvernement, annoncée en milieu de journée, de prolonger d’un week-end le confinement. J'en prends acte même si ce n'était pas ma recommandation.
— Christian Estrosi (@cestrosi) March 10, 2021
Hospitals Still Under Pressure
The hospital situation is reportedly particularly worrying in Ile-de-France, in Hauts-de-France and here in the South.
Efforts are to be redoubled even if the incidence rate has dropped back below the 500 mark in the Alpes Maritimes. Hospital occupancy and strain on resources remain very high in the department. It is estimated at 142% by an important metric called Covidtracker.
In its last bulletin, the Regional Health Agency reported over 120 patients in intensive care. A new record, unfortunately.
Over 60 Municipalities in Alpes Maritimes on Weekend Lockdown
63 municipalities of the coastal strip of the Alpes Maritimes had been placed on partial lockdown on weekends since February 27.
And so it continues into this upcoming weekend.
Christian Estrosi, the Mayor of Nice, had been campaigning since the start of the week for more freedom for the people of his city this weekend.
He reportedly asked the prefect of the Alpes Maritimes for the possibility of extending from 1 hour to 3 hours outings to practice physical activity.
At this point there has been no approval of the extension beyond the one hour allowed.
