France President Emmanuel Macron lays out new path for second epidemic wave

PARIS: In his first Bastille Day interview, President Emmanuel Macron promised that France is ready for a second epidemic wave and his team will follow a "new path" based on social dialogue to address the challenges triggered by the coronavirus crisis that has claimed over 30,000 lives and plunged the growth of the euro zone's second largest economy. France is prepared to address an eventual resurgence of the coronavirus epidemic by making face mask mandatory, bolstering testing capacity and stockpiling enough protective gear, said Macron on Tuesday, Xinhua news agency reported.

He noted "uncertainties" and "signs" suggesting that the virus "restarts a little." But, he reassured that the country was getting ready if the virus hits again.

"Now, we have both stocks and supplies and we have the organization as close to the ground as possible, which would make it possible to face an resurgence," he said. Adding to that, he said France will make wearing face masks compulsory at all enclosed public places starting from August 1 as one of the measures to contain any eventual resurgence of the epidemic.

"We are doing everything to avoid a new wave and to take a differentiated approach," he said, pledging "to isolate as quickly and as locally as possible."

Macron also confirmed that France would be among the first countries to get access to a potential vaccine being developed by French drugmaker Sanofi. (IANS)

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