French President Emmanuel MacronEmmanuel Jean-Michel MacronCoronavirus is accelerating the advance of nationalism over globalization Macron extends France’s coronavirus lockdown to May 11 COVID is a very different kind of crisis politically MORE announced Monday that lockdown measures to stem the spread of the coronavirus will be extended through May 11, saying the precautions were bearing fruit but that the extension was necessary to sustain the progress.

“Over the next four weeks, the rules must be respected,” Macron said in a televised address Monday, Reuters reported. The president said that by May 11, the country will have expanded testing capacity to the point that anyone presenting symptoms can be tested.

In the address, Macron acknowledged France had not been “prepared enough” when the outbreak first hit the country and reported that daily deaths had increased for the first time in four days, with 574 deaths reported in a 24-hour period and a total of 14,967, according to Bloomberg. New cases are down, with 4,188 new confirmed cases and 136,779 altogether.

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France has been the third hardest-hit country in Europe after Italy and Spain. The French government has increased intensive care unit capacity from 5,000 to 14,500 beds over the course of the pandemic, according to Bloomberg, citing a study by the French National Health and Medical Research Institute published by Le Monde.

Macron said the reopening process will be gradual, echoing similar projections by U.S. officials. Schools and nurseries will begin reopening in May, with universities remaining closed and places like restaurants, public event venues and bars staying closed until at least July.

“We’ll end up winning,” Macron said. “But we’ll need to live with the virus for a few months.”

The president’s approval on his handling of the pandemic has floundered after he initially claimed lockdown measures would not be necessary before reversing himself about a month ago. As of Sunday about 38 percent approved of the government’s handling of the outbreak, while 45 percent trusted the government to help companies weather the crisis, according to Bloomberg.

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