The EU are on a collision course with the UK over vaccines.

It would suggest a basic level of insecurity wouldn't it growstuff.
This report in the local gives a very clear account of where we are. The percentage of under 60s in intensive care is shocking.
www.thelocal.fr/20210331/macron-to-announce-latest-french-health-restrictions-in-live-tv-broadcast/

I agree with you absolutely Mamie.

Politics, PR, press reporting and public opinion all need unpicking to find out what's really going on.

Tut tut! I'm sure nobody in the UK would have any interest in making other countries, particularly France and Germany, seem worse.

Exactly that growstuff
Just to be clear, I am not suggesting that everyone on here is anti French or German. Quite clearly not. But there are elements of the British press and public opinion that seem to have a distorted and overly negative view of other leaders, especially Merkel and Macron. Much of the reporting and comment is inaccurate, frequently distorted and some downright lies. Clearly both leaders have both got things wrong in the course of the pandemic and both have apologised for doing so. Has anybody got it right from the beginning? Would it be reasonable to expect that they had?
It almost feels as if some people want to make the UK sound good by making other countries sound worse. Surely not?

Urmstongran

Just on SKY news now (The Press Preview)

“Germany has over 4 million doses of the AZ vaccine in fridges right now - why on EARTH are they not using it?”

Maybe because they're keeping them to guarantee second doses?

Macron is not saying AZ is unsafe. He very unwisely made some negative remarks to a small group of journalists a couple of months ago. It was widely reported in the UK but not in France. He has since made many statements supporting its use. He made a mistake and put it right.
What is it with all this Macron hatred and anti-French stuff?
The French lunchtime news quite often carries very positive UK news, there was a lovely one a couple of days ago about a boy raising money for a hospice.
It all seems a bit sad really.

Thanks for translating Urmstongran. I had meant to but was busy watching the Jane Austen programme on Channel 5.
Interesting that on Twitter Marine Le Penn writes that the measures announced by Macron this evening are as a result of a vaccine Waterloo. Ironic! She says Macron will not accept responsibility for this.

To be fair I think I did catch him say something along the lines of "I do feel sorry for those of you who have not been vaccinated."

I’m off to my bed, with this thought:

If Covid cases are really out of control in France (Paris, the NE and Nice it seems) , there is going to be some fallout across France - pretty unavoidable.

Yes Macron and Merkel have been completely malevolent in their attempt to damage the rollout there and yes, they both deserve every humiliation. But this is also about millions of citizens just like us, many of whom must be feeling afraid and helpless.

Regards the French lockdown ... Three weeks?
It didn't work for Wales. Why should it work for France?

Just on SKY news now (The Press Preview)

“Germany has over 4 million doses of the AZ vaccine in fridges right now - why on EARTH are they not using it?”

Translation from Ellianne’s post:

Sorting the sick is not an option, it never has been and it never will be. "
Attal

SORRY. typed wrong. They have NOT had to chose and will not have to chose.

Only grocery shops, garages etc are open ... and hairdressers but not gyms. Dentists and medical are open.

There is a curfew from 7pm to 6 am all over France.

It is a little stricter, that is to say the whole of France is touched not only the certains departments like the last few weeks. I have just watched the BBC news and they are not translating correctly, “they have had to chose and there will be no need to chose who is to be treated.” Moreover the schools are not closing for three weeks because of covid but one week closed and two weeks are the holidays.

SkyNews have just announced another national lockdown in France. Is this reporting correct?

Le tri des malades n’est pas une option, ça ne l’a jamais été et ça ne le sera jamais."
Attal

Alegrias1

I listened to the speech (in French). What I heard was that they weren't going to allow the situation to get bad enough that doctors had to choose between who lives and who dies. I also think he worded it and delivered it to make the audience feel they were all in it together.

^Bon courage, nos amis français.^

Thank you. What is printed in the press is not what is happening on the ground.

As was done on the UK, cutting down on other operations and using the staff. Moreover in France there is a sort of private sector which can work with the public one and they are being called on to help.

I listened to the speech (in French). What I heard was that they weren't going to allow the situation to get bad enough that doctors had to choose between who lives and who dies. I also think he worded it and delivered it to make the audience feel they were all in it together.

Bon courage, nos amis français.

I’m happy to let the Guardian translate the salient parts for me ...

Please listen to the speech before saying anything YouTube
Confinement, fermetures d'écoles, vaccins... les annonces intégrales d'Emmanuel Macron

Blimey! Where does he pull the support staff from to man over 2,000 extra beds at such short notice?? Impressive.

Oh -Macron is claiming it is not safe- I missed that bit. He did say more beds up to 10,000 instead of 7665 for Paris

From the Guardian just now:

“On Tuesday, health authorities in France reported 569 new ICU patients in 24 hours, the highest number since April last year during the first wave of the pandemic. The death toll has also started to rise, averaging nearly 350 a day over the past seven days, compared with just under 250 last week.”

While in Germany they are banning the AZ vaccine, and Macron is claiming it is not safe, in Walthamstow today they had some jabs left over and said anyone over the age of 50y could get the jab if they just turned up. The queues were huge as 2,000 people hurried along.