The City of Marseille practice and measures against the coronavirus

News

Faced with the health crisis, the City of Marseille continues to mobilize all of its resources to fight most effectively against the spread of the virus, protect the population, and guarantee the continuity of public service.

The health of Marseille citizens is a municipality priority

1. Information and support in the fight against the spread of the virus

Since the beginning of August, wearing a mask has gradually become obligatory throughout the city, starting with the busiest districts of Marseille.

Upon the Mayor’s decision, the Marseille’s Navy Firefighters Battalion, daily intervene in awareness and information missions on the wearing a mask and the risks of contagion:

• in Vieux-Port: Monday to Friday from 3 pm to 5 pm and from 4 pm to 6 pm on weekends
• Cours Julien: every even day of the week from 7 pm to 8 pm
• Stopover Escale Borély: every odd day of the week from 7 pm to 8 pm

In this mission, Marseille’s Navy Firefighters Battalion is supported by the municipal police officers who, if necessary, can proceed alongside the national police to communicate with people who do not follow the rule of obligatory mask-wearing.

During the summer months, thirty prevention officers and seven municipal police officers completed this prevention system on supervised beaches by educating residents about wearing masks, respecting physical distancing, and risky behavior.

Alongside these prevention actions, the City of Marseille has deployed a large campaign to display and distribute flyers explaining prevention measures throughout the city.

2. Access for all to hygiene and protective equipment

To preserve the health of the Marseille citizens and in particular, the most fragile ones, the City of Marseille has set up a distribution network of reusable masks throughout the territory.

From August 28, a total of 500,000 masks became available to residents in sector town halls and entertainment centers throughout the city.

Also, nearly 8,000 surgical masks are distributed each week by SAMU Social to the most disadvantaged people. The SAMU Social (a municipal humanitarian emergency service in several cities in France whose purpose is to provide care and medical aid, and nursing to homeless and people in social distress) agents also ensure the distribution of 500 meals per day to the economically deprived who have already benefited of 90,000 meals in total and 60,000 bottles of water, thanks to the support of the municipality and the State. Hygiene kits (toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, soap), clean clothes, and sanitary napkins are also available at the Ruf gymnasium (3rd arrondissement) with morning access to the shower, 5 days per week.

3. The virus detection overview for better protection

The City of Marseille has mobilized the Marseille’s Navy Firefighters Battalion, in partnership with the IHU Méditerranée Infections, to deploy test areas throughout the territory as close as possible to the residents. Since the end of August, the Battalion of marine firefighters, in coordination with the town hall, has been organizing 4-hour mobile shifts daily. In total 3,500 tests were carried out, with 200 tests per day. As part of solidarity action with the most defenseless and desire to protect all Marseille residents, on September 10, the City executed a massive detection operation affecting 90 occupants of the Cazemajou squat and 60 people potentially at risk.

4. The fight against the virus

The City of Marseille is working closely with the State to effectively deploy all public measures to fight COVID-19 and protect all citizens. In particular, municipal and metropolitan services analyze wastewater to detect any traces of viruses.

Ensuring the continuity of the public service

The City of Marseille has provided all municipal officers with the protective equipment necessary for their safety. The municipal departments have been reorganized according to the rules of physical distancing.

A new screening center for municipal officers

To identify new COVID-19 cases and thus prevent the spread of the virus within the workforce, on September 16 the City of Marseille organized a Covid-19 screening center for municipal officers at Le Dôme.

The screening center carried out in partnership with the IHU Méditerranée Infection, is open every day from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Since its launch, 200 municipal officers have already been tested.

Strict compliance with sanitary procedures and protocols

60 referents have been set up within the departments and training has been offered to managers to educate staff and apply procedures aimed at protecting their health and that of people who may be accommodated.

In public reception areas, specific health safety measures have been set up:

• visitors undersigned registration,
• plexiglass protected counters,
• hydroalcoholic gel dispensers,
• waiting times and the entries number management.

Besides, the City of Marseille has decided to grant free admission to museums to avoid the manipulation of money (except for the temporary exhibition at the Marseille History Museum).

Strict government health protocol for public areas

• Mobilization of the Marseille’s Navy Firefighters Battalion to carry out surface sampling tests and thus verify the presence or absence of traces of the virus.
• Introducing a specialized company for decontamination operation;
• Grouping in “septaine” (seven persons, instead of fourteen previously) of contact persons.