In Social issue today with the sociologist Jean Viard, we are of course talking about the marked increase in the number of cases of Covid-19 in France, but also in other countries of Europe and the world, with more or less seriousness. This clearly looks like the start of a fifth new wave, even warns the Minister of Health.
franceinfo. Jean Viard, Olivier Véran tells us that we can, according to him, pass this fifth wave as we did the fourth, that is to say quite quickly, and without general saturation of the health system …
Jean Viard: What is clear is that we are in the midst of one of the greatest tragedies in human history. That’s what you have to say to yourself. This tragedy is rebounding from one side to the other, on one continent, on the other, in countries like ours. In Germany, this time stronger than at home. It is a marker in the history of humanity that will change the world in a profound way because we are all in the process of thinking, of creating new solidarities.
Look at the Chinese and the Americans just signed an agreement on the fight against global warming, when they do not agree on anything. So the relationship with nature, the relationship with the climate is changing in our imaginations and our political visions. This is what is happening.
So yes, the curves are going up. Obviously, people will be rushing to get vaccinated. The French state being in this relationship of authority with the people, it suffices for the president to intervene, and in the evening and in one hour 100,000 people have made an appointment for the vaccine. Basically, this relationship between the center and the people is complicated, if we can put it like that. But it will definitely work like last time. Because basically, we all accepted that this virus was obviously a calamity, but that we still had to more or less follow the recommendations to try to protect ourselves. And so, that’s basically what’s going to happen.
So precisely, that’s interesting, Emmanuel Macron, who, Tuesday, November 9, conditions the possession of a health pass, in the future, to a third dose for those over 65, you spoke of this net rebound, appointments and even vaccinations, you say, is it much more pragmatism than docility and a habit?
Yes in France, it’s always the same: we moan and we pay, I would say. This is the model of government of this company, which was not invented by President Macron. Perhaps not even entirely by the 5th Republic. And so, I think it’s not fear, it’s pragmatism. It’s a bit like on highways, alerts like there will be a speed camera. We lift our foot as soon as we see the sign. It’s a bit the same thing. We accept the rule and wait until the last moment.
I think that society will go there, including the masks that will be given to children from Monday. Children, this is totally a sacred subject. So indeed, when we say children, put on a mask, no one is going to be against it, because adults always say to themselves: “I love my free will, they restrict my free will”. It is true that we restrict free will. The virus imposes rules on us that restrict our freedoms, and therefore it is normal that we are reluctant. But afterwards, I think people will still follow, including to protect their children, which is still the big question of a society.
There may also be a parallel to be drawn, since we see that the idea of the third dose and the conditioning of the health pass at this third dose is obviously quite accepted. And on this choice of the government to put the mask on the children of all schools in France from Monday, November 15, we do not really feel that this measure is being challenged. You explained why for the protection of children, but not in the method, and we could say that there was a bit of confusion. It happened in several weeks, gradually, part of France, then a little more, and now all the territory. We can say that a few months ago, that would have led to a grumbling, a sling?
I believe that we have understood that we are governing in an unstable world, and therefore people complain less than two years ago: “Yes, but it was not planned, we did not announce it to in advance, we did not negotiate “. Afterwards, it is also that it is the mode of governance of France. As we have seen on nuclear power, the summit decides and we follow. We could be a little more flexible, but I think we accepted the instability of the period.