French President Emmanuel Macron Announces Second Nationwide Lockdown, Warns Of Deadlier Outcomes

French President Emmanuel Macron, on Wednesday, warned of catastrophic outcomes from the second wave amid the announcement of a new nationwide lockdown. Macron in his speech to the nation, cited that things might turn ghastlier in France -- with over 400,000 COVID-19 related deaths -- if proactive measures aren’t implemented, moving forward.

“I decided that it was necessary to insist on a lockdown throughout the country from Friday. We've already reached 58 percent capacity in IC units. In numerous places, we have seen lifesaving operations delayed. And 9,000 patients will be in ICU by mid-November - that's our maximum capacity in France,” said Macron. “The virus is spreading across France at a speed that even the most pessimistic did not predict,” he added.

On the upside, residents can expect mild degrees of relaxations even as the lockdown gets implemented – with all public services, schools, and essential workplaces to remain open. However, one is discouraged from leaving home unless the reason for stepping out falls under the ambit of buying essential goods, seeking medical attention, or taking a daily one-hour allocation of exercise.

As per a recent report, the national measures are likely to be placed from Friday morning until December 1, until further review and notice. Macron also averred that the new restrictions were indeed “heart-breaking” but maintained that he “could never standby and see hundreds of thousands of its citizens die.”

The president however reiterated that that non-essential shops would be allowed to open within the next 15 days if the situation sees any improvement. At present, 35,000 infections are registered in France, but relaxations could be expected in the coming weeks if the cases plummet to 5,000 in the coming weeks.

“As elsewhere in Europe, we are overwhelmed by a second wave that will probably be more difficult and deadlier than the first,” said Macron. “If we did nothing... within a few months we would have at least 400,000 additional deaths,” he added. France logged in 523 fresh fatalities and 33,417 new cases on Tuesday, which is the highest since April.

Bars and restaurants will stop the business from Friday, likely to amplify the gnawing economic chaos in the country due to the pandemic. More 'specific details' on financial aid to be offered to businesses will be offered by the Prime Minister Jean Castex, tomorrow.

The new measures mirror the intensive lockdown that France enforced in the spring, spanning eight weeks when hospitalizations and fatalities caused by the outbreak peaked. While the relaxations eventually came by on May 11,

The public began to get back to work, universities, bars, and restaurants. Marcon also addressed how herd immunity or increasing medical capacity will not work in the country’s favor: “Herd immunity in the very short term will mean 400,000 additional dead,” he stated, adding, how due efforts were made to extend the medical workforce with “7,000 nurses and doctors trained to work in ICU”.

It is further noted that country's ICU bed capacity has expanded from 5,000 to 6,000 since the onset of the outbreak, while 10,000 is the desired number.