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....)

Army! Wow.

Can't belive the basketball player. Totally oblivious

We'll be clapping to thank health care workers for the first time tonight . Initially I thought that we'd look a bit silly doing it as we live in a little housing estate made up of six little cul de sacs but our neighbourhood WhatsApp group rallied last night so we'll be doing it.

In other news, after playing teacher all week I played hairdressers this afternoon and gave DH's hair a trim. He is surprisingly happy with it .

We live in the countryside between two villages. There is no-one on the road. It's so quiet - birdsong all day and frogs at night. We have a bridle path that leads from our house into the fields so we can go for a run but I was at work on Friday ( primary school teacher) looking after the children of Key workers, and I was stopped by checkpoints each time and they scrutinized my papers.

         My dcs are both lycéens and are been kept at it. My ds is doing his Bac which is a matter of concern for us as he has applied to Dublin. I am using Ecole Directe which is laborious and frustrating but we are hoping to start videoconferencing this week. 

    So far no problem with food. Our supermarkets have adapted very quickly; the clsoing time is earlier to allow re -stocking and one of them is now closing on Mondays as well to allow staff to rest. There are taped out areas at the check out so that you cannot be in too close proximity.
                               I went out this morning very early for a quick run - bizarrely la chasse was still in full flow.It had been extended until March 31st but I would have thought they would have had to knuckle down like everyone else.

For those in France and Italy, what is the state of online shopping for NON-food items (eg children’s clothes) - can you still order and have stuff delivered?

@HelloViroids

Yes for the moment. DS2 managed to outgrow/put huge holes in every single pair of trousers the weekend before lockdown. I got new ones delivered- they arrived day 3 of lockdown.

A previously ordered item was delivered day 2 of lockdown.

Ive just put in an Amazon order and the delivery times are a lot longer than normal but hopefully it'll turn up as it includes birthday presents for DS2.

We clapped again tonight. People are getting inventive with musical instruments and just banging mugs. Makes you feel less alone.

Lovely walk to the Super U in town, it's just along the (mainly) pedestrianised main street. We were a bit naughty as we pretended to go to the Sherpa (knowing it was closed) then turned back and went to SU. Anything to extend the walk The shop was quiet but very well-stocked - no dried lentils but masses of wine, cheese bread, cakes, chocolate, meat, fish, fresh fruit & veg, loo rolls, kitchen rolls, yoghurt, milk, tinned tomatoes & pasta.... it's a great shop and only a bit expensive.
Had a snooze when we got back and then with a new attestation filled in for exercise, we went for a walk - within our 2km radius. Span it out by using alleys and paths so quite a long walk to the foot of the mountain and then home. Primroses ore out now and it was all very beautiful. Saw less than a dozen people in an hour.

@CroissantsAtDawn if you were in France with your English car, and the english mot is due in 4 weeks, is there anything you could do? Sorry if that's a totally stupid question. It sure where to find the answer!

Love the primroses! I went out to our "garden" - just a bit of green in the middle of our block of flats but it's not actual lawn and watched a bee for a while. Was quite zen.

crapette then how do you walk your dogs? Other people on this thread are talking about exercising out of doors. And the farm is about a mile away.

OP “ We clapped again tonight. People are getting inventive with musical instruments and just banging mugs. Makes you feel less alone.”

Is this on balconies?

Either on balconies or just from the window. We don't have a balcony and neither do many people in our street. We just open the window wide and sort of lean out clapping.

As for MOT question- no idea Im afraid! Garages are still open though. Is your car insured in the UK or France?

@GrumpyMiddleAgedWoman

You just walk your dog in front of your building. Just around the block.

Thanks for the info. The dog is going to drive us mad!

@Seventyone

We have a tiny strip of garden outside our ground floor window, and have put bird feeders on the iron balcony railings. The birds are loving it, and feels very zen. I know it doesn’t compare to a garden but it makes a huge difference.

@CroissantsAtDawn in the UK. it all UK registered, due MOT next month, should have been back in UK next week but not going to happen now!

Ring your insurer to ask maybe? Im sure a French garage would do an MOT but not sure what your insurer would say. Then again, its not like its your choice!

Why cant you go home? Most countries are letting their nationals in you just then have to self isolate.

People are getting inventive with musical instruments and just banging mugs.
I went to the kitchen and brought out a frying pan and wooden spoon to bang together but French DH gave me a look and told me that we weren't Spanish . I just read this to him and he has given me authorisation to bang away tomorrow night .

It's not me, family members. Ferries all cancelled.

Very lucky to live in the countryside with a big garden and surrounded by lots of footpaths. I've obeyed all the rules, reduced my shopping at Super U to once a week, the D S 13 and DD 19 back from the Fac are confined with us. Lots if work in the garden and house to occupy everyone. But I'm still running 20km a day with my border collie, not with friends, but alone, I rately cross anyone and if I do we keep our distance.
How people in appartements are managing, I can't even begin to imagine, chapeau to you all.

As we have only 10,000 reserve soldiers in the UK (was supposed to be 20,000 under AF2020 policy [eyeroll]), there is no way this could be policed here.

Really shocked to read this. It's lockdown - you're supposed to be staying at home, not going for runs and taking your kids out to play! You don't see other children because other people are obeying the rules - please do the same. You only go out if you really have to - once per day maximum, returning within 30 mins. I get that it's hard for people in apartments, especially with kids, but several family outings a day for no reason is really irresponsible.

Thanks OP

“ Very lucky to live in the countryside with a big garden and surrounded by lots of footpaths. ”

This has always been my dream - even more so after this.

Hi from Haut Rhin. They have started sending the patients to Switzerland and Germany now, as hospitals are full.

The interpretation of the rules by all local authorities is so conflicting and confusing, I wish they would all just agree on something. I'm not sure how this 'leave your house only once per day' that some are saying is supposed to work - if you need to go buy food then dog can't go and pee that day?

@Guest7

If that was to me then we are following the restrictions to the letter (as they get more precise - at the beginning they were a bit vague).

Physical exercise is allowed and the government has repeatedly said it's important for physical and mental health- you just have to follow the rules, which we are.

Im sure my downstairs 85 year old neighbour is thankful we re taking the boys out 2x20 minutes to let off some steam.

Apart from that, we re only going out for food. There are no food deliveries here anymore so Im not sure what else you think we should be doing?