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in collaboration with
Dr Gérald Kierzek (Medical Director of Doctissimo)
Medical validation:
September 13, 2022
In a book published last Thursday, the former Minister of Health looks back on how he managed the health crisis and admits having made some mistakes, in particular about masks.
From the start of the first confinement, Olivier Véran had taken up the pen to start writing this story, entitled “Beyond the waves” and published by Robert Laffont editions.
The government had deemed it “useless” to wear a mask
In this book-story on the health crisis, the government spokesperson, formerly Minister of Health, reveals various anecdotes, but also some mea culpa.
Indeed, at the start of the health crisis, the Ministry of Health had affirmed that wearing a mask was useless to counter the coronavirus.
” The mask is really a rare commodity, a precious resource for caregivers, and totally useless for anyone on the street. “, had thus affirmed the director general of Health Jérôme Salomon, on March 18, 2020, when France was sorely lacking in masks.
It will be necessary to wait until July 20 for the wearing of the mask to be made compulsory in confined places.
For Olivier Véran, the observation is clear:
“ The truth is that, on the masks, we were wrong, neither more nor less. We, the World Health Organization, the international health authorities. In good faith, of course, but we were wrong. So this book is also an opportunity to apologize “.
The former Minister of Health, however, affirms in the columns of Le Parisien that it was ” of an error in judgment », and not voluntary lies.
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The former Minister of Health came close to burnout
Olivier Véran takes this opportunity to come back to certain decisions, considered aberrant with hindsight:
” For example when we reopen the terraces of the restaurant by requiring flower boxes or Plexiglas panels to separate the tables “.
Finally, he explains that he touched “the finger on burn-out”, because of the “permanent stress” linked to his function.
” I had dizziness, deep nausea, legs wobbly “, Specifies the former Minister of Health, who confides that he has since started to meditate.