Lockdown conditions in France

[CroissantsAtDawn]

Ive seen lots of threads with people worrying about lockdown.and how they would cope/ it would be enforced.

Last night, following the President's announcement I received a text message from the government confirming the lockdown for 15 days and linking to a site with details.

From 12 today we are only allowed out to go to work if work from home isnt possible, buy groceries, see a doctor, help elderly/vulnerable family in need (with reminder about barrier actions), to let a dog do its business or for individual physical activity close to home.

Each time you need a paper dated and signed explaining why you are out. Infringements are fined 38-135 euros. The paper can be downloaded and printed, shown on your phone or just hand written.

100 000 police and army personnel are being deployed to enforce the conditions.

No mention of how children can exercise. Just that parks etc are closed and there should be no family or friends gathering.

We are going to test going out early for run with 1 DC each and hope that is allowed in "individual activity". If its not I ll stand on the doorstep and watch them run up and down the road (2 highly active boys living in a flat....)

Everyone will be watching tomorrow!

Hopefully it is a red herring - people will protest vigorously otherwise. Our figures are down again. 315 deaths in hospital, lower once again.

If Macron tightens thé already tight restrictions it will be the worst sort of posturing. Even Spain is going to start relaxing things at the start of May.
On the news tonight a minister spoke about making everyone work much harder and suspending bank holidays to get the country back on its feet. It is really out of order at the moment, it isn't the fault of the French public that they are locked up and not working.

Agreed. Everyone has made loads of effort. The restrictions are already high. I'm worried about people's mental health.

What channel was the minister talking on about giving up bank holidays?

It's been in Le Monde about the bank holidays

This is a longish article about President Macrons handling of the crisis from Politico.eu.
www.politico.eu/interactive/inside-emmanuel-macron-coronavirus-war/?utm_source=POLITICO.EU&utm_campaign=9f1ca69cfd-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2020_04_12_03_32&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_10959edeb5-9f1ca69cfd-190026745

What more can Macron do, it seems pretty tightly buttoned in France already.

No outdoor exercise whatsoever like Spain and Italy?

But the figures are coming down now, I do not think Macron should do this unless the figures climb again which will make the people think this is the right thing to do.

Only just found this thread, hello fellow France-dwelling MNers!

Getting fed up of it all now, poor DS desperately needs some company his own age and I want him back in school so I can work on my dissertation in peace. The sécu told DH that they won't reopen until all 3 zones have finished their Easter holidays (May 4th) at the very earliest but I reckon it'll be even longer.

Just so relieved that DH is home with me and that we chose a garden over a chambre d'ami when we bought this place last year...

I am a bit envious of those of you with gardens. Three people in less than 65m2 is getting slightly close.

I too am envious of gardens!

Macron could cut out exercise, limit number of times people go shopping, stop children going out, introduce curfews etc.

My 8 year old cried several times yesterday. He's a very active outdoor child (despite being born and raised central Paris!) And since he was tiny we've always had to take him out a least twice a day for all our sakes. He is so fed up of lockdown and bored of staying within 1km of our flat.

Loads of ideas for keeping DC occupied include crafts (he doesn't like them), puzzles (snap), exercise videos (snap). I eventually hit on the idea of making short films which he started last night but I am running out of ideas.

Croissants it was on the 3 and 2 news last night.

Strange how are you managing your confinement? I agree, I have a big garden and I don't feel restricted, especially with all the nice weather. It must be very difficult for you.

Three people in less than 65m2 is getting slightly close

Try a family of five in a single basement room. Welcome to the 93. (The family opposite us, we have a house and a bit of garden).

I have a garden which of course really helps. But I miss seeing friends, and of course DC miss theirs - we're in the village so they are all allowed to roam around from early age.
As others have said, cases are going down, so I don't think all people would be happy to accept stricter measures at this stage.

Hello all,
Just found this thread too.

Im feeling quite nervous about Macrons speech this evening. I can (just about) cope with a few more weeks of confinement but I’m really worried about the borders remaining closed all summer.

My events business has gone down the pan and without tourism they’ll be no possibility of picking up a job in a hotel or restaurant to see me through.

I feel for those of you in small flats. We are lucky to have a house with a garden, without close neighbors.

Many people I know have moved from their small apartments in cities to their houses in the Var at the beginning of this crisis (mid-March), but now they are being harassed by the police about it, being told to go back to their apartments because "it's not fair"

Bonjour everyone from the Dordogne (24)

We seems to have one of the lowest figures in the Country - although probably because my area is very rural. Enough groceries in Intermarche and L'Eclerc at the moment. Our Gendarmes are particularly vigilent though, which I suppose is good, but can't even walk around to the poubelles without my piece of paper. WFH for a British company with so many colleagues on furlough.

Have actually been in lockdown since 9th March as DD picked up the virus in Manchester and brought it home with her. She's ok now and I didn't get it.

Big hugs to you all as it seems we might not even be halfway through the confinement.

They could gradually open some non-essential businesses up. Hairdressers and dentist, I have a tooth that has been acting up for a week now, and DS is looking more and more like a crazy scientist.

My hairdresser's appointment was scheduled for the day after lockdown. As it has grown from a pixie cut I have been brushing it back and it is holding its shape quite well. The trouble is that I now look in the mirror and my mother is staring back at me. 😱
We are lucky enough to have a garden. We have 36 raised beds and the planting has never been so advanced before
I feel for those of you in apartments. Our son and family in Spain have been shut in for five weeks. He says the children have forgotten what it means to go outside.

I'm happy they at least allow children out. it really must be challenging if they can't get any outdoor exercise for weeks and weeks.

Or, could be even more extreme. Friends of mine in South Africa and Malaysia said they're not allowed to take the dogs out, at all. That's just crazy! I have 2 old dogs, there's no way I could explain to them they have to do their business indoors now.

Weather is lovely here in 01 today, the mountains are so close but oh so far

I'm sorry for everyone in apartments. We moved in January just before things started happening. So so grateful to go from an apartment to a house with garden .

I will be so upset if they say children can't go out anymore. They need it for their physical and mental health. My 8 year old has cried again today as he is so aware of what he is missing out on but isn't old enough to know that acceptance is half the battle.

My youngest sometimes struggles but as one of his favourite ever things is cycling he still gets to do that early in the morning.

I can't see why the restrictions would be getting any tougher, when other places on a similar trajectory are moving towards lightening them.

I agree. And maybe the rumours were started to make us all relieved that we're "only" being in lockdown until May 10th.

I just saw in the Times that France is talking about making the lockdown even stricter. I've got to say I think that has a lot more to do with controlling the population, than evidence it is any more effective than eg Germany's approach. Other countries are talking about easing the restrictions, however slowly and gently.