Pres. Macron fellow citizens, when on october 28 i spoke to you, i told you i would report to you on the epidemic and the decisions that would be taken some one month later. The number of positive cases of covid19 per day has gone down substantially. It was above 60,000. Last week the figure stood at 20,000 cases per day on average. After reaching 33,500 patients hospitalized on the 15th of november, more than the first wave, we have begun to see a gradual decline. The number of people in intensive care units due to covid19 went from 4900 to 4300 today. From this data we see the peak of the second wave of the epidemic is over with. Last time i spoke, we were worried figures would be even worse than this. We avoided those. Firstly because our efforts, yours efforts have paid off. The spirit you displayed was effective. Furthermore, we learned to better cope with and treat patients to avoid some of the serious forms that could have struck down our fellow citizens and weighed more heavily on our ic units. I would like to pay tribute to devotion of the hospital and Health Care Providers who cope with this in spite of the fatigue. I pay tribute to the associations, volunteers, professionals, who also provided assistance. All of us together have been able to save lives. We have been successful in slowing circulation of this virus, but we mustnt lose sight of our other health concern. First, we must continue to treat and resume treatment for other patients. We must also be prepared to cope with the longterm considerations of this virus. Scientists and experts are now working with the Health Care Insurance for long term monitoring of covid19 patients. I asked the government to prepare a strategy to take account the psychological consequences of this lockdown and pandemic. Elderly people at home and in the Retirement Community and thinking of those with disabilities are still suffering from their isolation. We must support them in the long run. Lastly, we must redouble our vigilance to prevent and rise to problems when violence is perpetrated against women and children during the lockdown. We slowed the circulation of the virus. Nevertheless it is present in france and the entire northern hemisphere, throughout europe, in canada, the united states, russia, it is circulating very much so. Currently we have reached 50,000 deaths due to the epidemic. Overall, the situation is improving in france and overseas territories. In some regions, it is still a concern. There will be several weeks ahead of us to reach the objectives so we can bring the epidemic under control and thereby stabilize the number of contagions, around 5000 people per day. To have between 2300 and 5000 people in intensive care units. I am turning to you tonight to say we must continue with our efforts. What are our objectives . To save as many lives as possible. To control the pandemic and all the while address the economic considerations and ensure our lives, sports, education, our way of living we need to think of the overseas territories, specific plans drafted. We must continue avoiding many activities in the closed areas which tend to speed up the circulation of the virus. We must limit gatherings. This evening i would like to set a course and talk to you about the prospects. A new stage will begin. Starting saturday, 28 of november in the morning. First, the things that will not change. The system of certificates will remain en forced because this has enabled us to reach good results. Therefore, continue to work from home when possible, to not go to family gatherings, private meetings, and do unnecessary traveling. Next saturday morning, several changes are going to take place. Firstly, it will be possible to travel outside. You will be able to go within 20 kilometers for three hours. Extramural activities will be possible as well. It will be possible to worship at gatherings with a maximum of 30 people. I know how important this is for daily lives. The malls and city centers, all stores will be able to reopen. Home services will resume, but there will be a Strict Health protocol negotiated with all professionals that i would like to thank here. Services and businesses will be able to reopen, staying open until 9 00 p. M. At the latest. Book stores, record stores, libraries, and archives will also be able to open in these same conditions. The second stage will be starting december 15. On december 15, if we do reach 5000 contaminations per day and 2300 people in icus, we will be able to move on to our next stage. The lockdown will then be lifted. We will be able to move to travel without authorization and spend christmas with the family. We will have to limit unnecessary travel to the utmost. We will be able to get together, yes, but i would call on your sense of responsibility. We know these wont be the usual christmas holidays. We can say indoor activities will once again be allowed for schools. Cinemas, theaters, museums will be able to resume activities, again in compliance with Health Protocols negotiated. I would like to say here i very much thank and very much support everyone in the cultural sector. We asked so much of them, but we asked so much of them, but they held together, found other audiences during these difficult times. We need them. Our fellow citizens, all of us need to be able to live our lives. Culture is essential for us as free citizens. So strong restrictions will nonetheless remain enforced. Large gatherings will be prohibited and any party events, exhibition halls, large entertainment parks will remain closed. Bars and discotheques will not be able to reopen during this period. Regarding ski resorts, with consultation with the government and local elected officials, decisions will be finalized in the near future. It appears to me impossible to consider opening for the holiday period. It would be much better to consider reopening in midjanuary. We will coordinate with our european neighbors. The rationale underpinning the decisions is to stay safe. We are limiting any activities which would increase gatherings, have gettogethers, and in enclosed areas that would gradually make it possible to have activities where you can protect yourself where it is possible to social distance throughout the country during the period starting december 15. A curfew from 9 00 p. M. To 7 00 a. M. Will be enforced. You can travel freely on the 24th of december. Public gatherings will not be permitted. You will be play a key role for our collective success. Private meetings and gatherings at the most must limit the number of adults in the same room at the same time. We must make sure we comply with the health rules among ourselves to protect everyone. The next stage will start january 20. At that date, we will have another experience. It takes around two weeks to see the real consequences of changes in our behavior. Around january 20, we will then be able, if possible, to make new decisions for openings. If the number of contaminations remains under 5000 per day, Sports Centers and restaurants will be able to reopen. The curfew may be shifted. High schools, which often today are having half sessions, at that point will be able to have full sessions with all students present. Two weeks later, then the universities will be able to resume courses with all students present. We will update every two weeks on the Health Situation and decide whether we can take extra measures to open, or on the contrary we must backtrack to make sure there is no resurgence in the virus. We must do everything to prevent a third lockdown. We are not passive during the lockdown. We are all playing a role. During the holiday season, we will be meeting with families. We are tempted to relax too much. We have to redouble our vigilance. We have to protect our families. Wear masks. Even at home when we are meeting with friends or relatives who dont share our households. We must comply to make sure we respect distances. We must let in fresh air every hour and wash hands. Every one of us can be part of the solution. Our second tool is the strategy of test, alert, treat, which we are reorganizing to make this more effective. This will be the most important tool over the next few weeks. We are one of the European Countries that tests the most. In january, no test should take longer than 24 hours between the request of the test and its results. The pcr tests and antigenic tests. These will be used on a largescale, specifically for people who have symptoms or those in school or a retirement home. Innovations continue. I hope they make it possible for us to do this more simply in the future. Over the next few weeks, we must improve our organization so we can more quickly break the chain of contamination by more fully identifying all of the cases of contact, all the people who have been exposed to someone who has covid19. 10 million and more have downloaded this application. It is essential to identify. We need to use this in stores and restaurants and anywhere there are gatherings. This is to help health care authorities. Over 10,000 contact tracers every day. Id like the government and parliament to make for the conditions whereby we can ensure isolation of persons who are contaminated and more binding isolation. If we want to avoid a lockdown, we must be more restrictive when it comes to people who have the virus. These people will be provided with material assistance, health and psychological assistance. This new strategy will entail City Services and Association Services to treat. Much progress has been made. We must continue improving assistance and treatment starting with diagnosis in surgeries and at the hospital to further prevent serious forms of the disease. The next tool for all of us gives us a great deal of hope, a vaccine. Our strategy is based on several vaccines. Some will be available in january, and a second round will arrive in springtime. We must secure the number of doses. We did this with the European Commission by buying from producers and making sure maximum production in europe. The number of doses is shared based on each member state. The first vaccine should be administered as from validation from the health authorities. Next, to guarantee health safety. The Scientific Committee will be entrusted with monitoring vaccinations. A group of citizens will be established to bring in more broadly the citizens at large. It is important for me for this to be done in a fully transparent framework. Vaccination must be done clearly, transparently at every stage, sharing everything we know. To be clear, i will not make vaccination mandatory. We are working to organize a massive vaccination campaign. We will issue recommendations. Local governments will assign practical ways to roll out the vaccines. Hospitals, retirement homes, and all doctors in cities. Starting in decemberjanuary, subject to green lighting, authorities will start vaccinating the most fragile people, the elderly. Gradually we will be able to vaccinate the largest number of people. A return to a normal situation wont happen overnight, but i am convinced we will be able to control the pandemic for the longterm. Weve got the wherewithal to do this together, to overcome this virus. Everyone has their roles to play. At the same time, we must cope with an unparalleled economic and social crisis. The result of the first lockdown and what we are living with now. The crisis in all likelihood is going to worsen. But we have an answer. We did this in the beginning. Since day one, we have been asking for employees furloughed, those on pensions and entitlements, specifically for unemployed persons, government backed loans, canceling out of payroll taxes. Regardless of the cost, it led to action. We boosted the response of the second wave. I would like to thank the entire government. We together in competition built new social assistance. A special solidarity payment as well as scholarships and students under 25 getting payments. All in all, four million families and 1. 3 million young people will get assistance. Aid to citizens has been posted substantially by postponing payments by reducing payroll taxes and the solidarity fund, particularly for selfemployed people. Many sacrifices have been asked for. They were often afraid of losing the fruit of a whole lives worth of work. In the next few days we will further add to this assistance in addition to the existing arrangements. We will support bars, discotheques, all the places that will be required to remain closed will receive 20 of the revenue from 2019 if that is preferable to the 10,000 euros from the solidarity fund. I know our restaurant owners, the entrepreneurs, the businesses we closed want to work. They want to continue getting up early in the morning and go to their businesses. I realize the sacrifice we are asking of them. That is why we are providing this exceptional aid again until january 20. Seasonal workers that have not worked for months, those who arent getting jobs this year, young people who arent managing to find jobs will find a one off assistance to their situation. The government will be submitting in the next two days a plan. Wheelie platform which will provide information on this. All these decisions were taken after consultations with social partners and local elected officials and others. Guided by science. Yes, there are many things we do not know, but i fully accept and shoulder the decisions i am talking to you about today. I am taking these decisions to protect you as much as possible in this exceptional situation. Fellow citizens, i am aware i have spoken to you in great detail, but we must understand how in the next few weeks we will organize things. There is a lot of unknowns. We have to be very humble. The virus has taught us that. I will do everything i can to protect you and to be successful in controlling this epidemic. This has been tough times for over a year now, and we are not at the end of it yet. I dont want to feel resignation nor anger. I am optimistic. In a crisis, look at the last nine months. During this time, we managed to be successful in something we thought was impossible. We managed to make our state more efficient to tackle health crises. We changed our Health Care System and hospitals. We used Digital Tools to bring citizens closer together in various territories. We showed an ability to innovate and in inventiveness that has been decisive, to build our future and confront future crises. We have shown the solidarity of never before. We have also identified some of our weaknesses and too much bureaucracy. Sometimes a sense of responsibility that was unequal. A lack of sovereignty sometimes in terms of our production. In on coming months we will have to consolidate these strengths we did not know we had and correct for the vulnerabilities that sometimes we did not want to see. To do this, we will have to accept science and knowledge. We never give into the idea of [indiscernible] we must continue being entrepreneurs. We have to turn around our economy by investing, working, and showing solidarity. The stimulus plan of 100 billion euros helps us prepare for the future of our economy, creating jobs in new sectors. But in the next few weeks, every single one of us owes a spirit of of responsibility to the nation. We must turn a kind eye to everyone else. Sometimes people get angry. During this period, we mustnt go overboard. We need to stand together for our values, our attachment to our democracy, our humanism which today as in the past has been what brought us all together and been a certainty. Fellow citizens, once again i am certain we will rise to the challenges. Our generation together needs to overcome this epidemic, confront terrorism, confront the Climate Crisis and the crisis of inequalities. We are standing together. In the future we will overcome this together. Long live the republic. Long live france. President elect joe biden will deliver thanksgiving remarks today. He is in wilmington delaware and is expected to start at 2 00 p. M. Eastern. You can watch it live on cspan. Postht, washington columnist george will discusses the impact of the trump presidency. Live coverage begins at 8 00 p. M. Eastern on cspan, live on cspan. Org, or live with the freeze free cspan radio app. Georgia senator Kelly Leffler and her challenge herbal debate on sunday, december 6. The race is one of two georgia u. S. Senate runoff elections that will be held on january 5. We will have live debate covered at 7 00 p. M. Eastern, online at cspan. Org, or you can listen. Ith the free cspan radio app dr. N washington journal Anthony Faucher answered questions from viewers on how to keep family members say from the coronavirus during the thanksgiving holiday. You can start calling and now