Anyone on here living in Spain, Germany, France?

[C1239]

Just wondering if anyone on here is living in Spain, Germany or France and what’s it like?
What’s it like in Spain since some lockdown measures have been lifted?

[stella1know]

In Germany here. It feels like the nightmare is coming to an end. There was loo roll in the shops, which have been well stocked. Smaller shops are opening again and there is debate AGAINST opening school up. But my wider family is at home in England and I worry for them.

[stella1know]

But there is also measured caution, which is good, an good levels of trust in Queen Merkel for whom there is no suitable successor except the Bavarian leader Marcus Söder. It seems that for the first time ever/for ages the leader of Bavaria is looked up to by all of Germany, and not seen as a backwater provincial conservative leader. Or maybe I am missing some political history as a Brit????

[Neoflex]

Germany here. Yesterday I met my friend in the park for a picnic and bottle of wine. The park was very busy (big city) and the police were present, just breaking up groups of more than two. There was even a busker playing the saxophone.
Only things we have had trouble getting were flour, onions, and toilet paper. But then you just visit a couple more shops and you find what you need eventually. Been able to get an online delivery shop once a week.
Both my husband and I are furloughed but under the German system you are able to work some hours, so we are each doing 50 percent. Our daughter is at home but we take her out on a walk once a day.
Public transport is a bit irregular.
Most of our favorite restaurant are closed but can get things to go from some places, like an ice cream or a kebab.

[TipseyTorvey]

My good friend is Spanish in Madrid, locked down in a tiny apartment for weeks now. They're not allowed exercise, just a weekly trip for food or meds. She's very stoic but reminds me not to complain as I have a garden.

[C1239]

The lockdown in England has definitely been a lot more relaxed than in other European countries hasn’t it.

[Booboostwo]

France here. Another three weeks to go and I am not sure what comes next. No one knows at this stage. Everything is calm though here and you can get everything you need, e.g. food, medicines, access to doctors.

[anothernotherone]

I'm in Germany with a totally different experience, but I work in adult social care. We've got lots of cases in the institution where I work (currently 36 residents and colleagues in double figures too) and have had five deaths and there bloody well should be an argument against going back to school because we're still getting new cases daily.

Exams are not cancelled here and exam year pupils, apprenticeship candidates and students of all types have to go back on 27th April. It's a joke as we have a nursing, healthcare and social care college and the final year students doing apprenticeship style qualifications are working virtually or more than full time but will go back to college simultaneously and getting them all together in classrooms will probably transmit the virus to institutions that don't have them.

The nursing and health and social care degree equivalent exams haven't been delayed even though college was cancelled and students have all been working flat out in our placements.

No allowances is still the line we're hearing - exams start mid May.

Students with younger children are stuffed because all but the final year of primaries won't go back til mid to late May.

If it weren't for schools and exams the rest of the experience is fine.

Testing is being done as it should be - the uuk sounds like a joke on testing. The downside is that as soon as a colleague coughs or sneezes or says they have a headache they're off til they've been tested - makes sense but delays means endless covering of other people's shifts,and Germans are hypochondriacs so the usual suspects have been off for stretches more than once.

Routine testing is due to be introduced for all health care employees soon.

[Letseatgrandma]

How does testing happening in these countries? Is it easy for people to access?

When the media says schools are returning on x date, are they all returning full to capacity or much reduced? Are the parent supportive of the plans?

[JustaScratch]

I'm in Spain. We've been inside since mid-March. The lifting of restrictions so far has only extended to allowing construction and manufacturing workers back to work. My cleaner told us today that she is allowed to come back next week if we want her. Kids are still not allowed outside and there are still police patrols and helicopters quite frequently to make sure people are not flouting the restrictions. We live on a very quiet street outside a small town and a police car went past me as I took my dog out earlier. They are talking about possibly starting to let kids outside to some degree from next weekend but details are still emerging. It's been incredibly tough for a lot of people.

[anothernotherone]

Letseatgrandma in Bavaria you get a number from the GP by phone and go to a drive through test center. The test is a mouth swab. Your results go to your GP who calls you after 1-3 days.

We can pick up test packs for residents and return them.

Exam years are returning on 27th April.

The year before the exam years at secondary school and the last year of primary go back on 11th May.

Other years after that to be announced.

Day centers can open from 5th May.

[peacelikeariver]

Germany here too, I'm a community nurse. We don't have many cases here yet. One of our clients was tested positive and then 3 times negative a while ago. Everyone who had been in contact had to go into quarantine for 14 days. We also got tested but still had to stay home for the full quarantine. You get official documents that you are quarantined which your employer uses to reclaim your pay and you get daily phone calls to check if you have symptoms. And if they catch you outside its massive fine or even prison.
I think they reduced the quarantine for healthcare staff to 7 days now.
In our state we have to wear face masks in shops and on transport from Monday. The lockdown release is quite slow and sensible. They have used the time to massively increase contact tracing capacity(started seeing ads for those jobs at least month ago) and testing is pretty good too. So I think they will observe what happens and if they can keep interrupting the infection chains and if not will tighten it again. There is also talk of a voluntary app for contact tracing.

[JMoore]

Germany (Baden-Württemberg) here. Schools will reopen 4 May, but only for the grades that have finals this year. Abitur exams have been pushed back to mid-May. Details will be communicated next week, apparently. Current discussion is how to handle public transport when students go back. Teachers and students in at-risk groups are not going back to school until further notice, apparently (also students whose parents are at risk).

We had more shops open the whole time than Bavaria for example, I think, like garden centres. Supermarkets are relatively well-stocked although supply of toilet paper is still slow. We are in a small village, and police drive around regularly to make sure there are no infractions. People tend to just wave to each other and keep a respectful distance.

[C1239]

For those where lockdown is gradually started to be lifted , are you advised to wear masks when out? Are schools going back before a lot of workers etc?

[WyfOfBathe]

I now live in the UK but my parents and 18 year old sister live in France. She would be taking her bac (A levels) this year, but the exams are now cancelled and her grade will be based solely on coursework. There's no September resit option like has been suggested in the UK, so if she's not happy with her grade she's stuck with it.

Schools will be going back "in little groups" from 11 May, but AFAIK the government haven't yet clarified what this actually means.

[BillieEilish]

Schools in Spain won't be going back before September. (We break up in June for summer)

Basically there has been no real lifting of any restrictions really, a few people were allowed back at work last week as PP said. Next week it looks like we may have a short time slot for young DC's to take them for a walk. Time slots vary according to age.

But all TBA.

That's it. Here we view England in

[Gfplux]

Tiny Luxembourg here.
Tomorrow, Monday is a big day. Construction sites can open together with DIY stores and Garden centres.
In addition face covering is compulsory in shops, public transport and any situation where social distancing of 2 meters may be compromised. This will be strictly enforced.
I say face coverings as for the present scarves are allowed. 5 Masks per person are due to be distributed this coming week with the Government having a stockpile of 7 million for the purpose.
I will write about schools later as Killing Eve is just about to start.

[Carolamc]

French resident here. 2 hour TV programme tonight, detailing where France is in terms of deaths (both in hospitals and care homes), where we are re PPE and where we will be going post May 11, in terms of easing of the lockdown. All very informative and honest.

The 'deconfinement' will be gradual, and dependent on whether the French think they have control, in terms of how they can cope with infections as the month progresses. masks will have to be worn on public transport. Schools will reopen gradually. The actual plan will be available at the end of April and be discussed by government.

There will be no vaccine until Mid 2021, so life will change, social distancing is here for the foreseeable future. Those that are 'at risk' will be expected to stay in confinement even after 11 May.

I have watched both UK and French government presentations, and to be honest I was far more impressed by the honesty and purposefulness of the French one, well I would wouldn't I?

[BigTikes]

BillieEilish can I ask what about the UK situation shocks you?

[Gfplux]

Luxembourg. Information on school opening.

Phase 1 Of Deconefinement was today that I detailed above. We received 5 masks per person late this morning distributed by volunteers.

Phase 2 of Deconefinement Monday May 4th Premier (the final year of secondary education) return to School with exams planned in due course.
Monday May 11th over two weeks gradual opening of the rest of secondary schools with classes split in two. One week at home one week in class.

Phase 3 of Deconfinement Monday May 25th over two weeks primary schools and Crèche will open

Killing Eve was as complex as before but very entertaining.