In France under lockdown - AMA

[MickeyMouae199]

I'm currently under lockdown in France in a relatively big city. The measures came into effect at 12pm today and will last for at least two weeks... Feel free to ask any questions !

Our post office was closed yesterday, not sure if it will be open on reduced hours, or perhaps they may keep only central post offices open.

I think companies with a very strict work ethic but in a non-essential sector unravel pretty quickly Hmm. Airbus in Toulouse, a company with a thousand contingencies to keep production going and insane pressure on deadline, closed down in three days. People are taking this very seriously here.

The lockdown itself feels Ok what feels panicky is when you feel unwell for whatever reason and you know the usual safety nets don’t apply. Friend’s DH was diagnosed with prostate cancer on Friday, he was due to see the surgeon this week but everything has been pushed back six weeks. DS, 5yo, is asthmatic and has been coughing for seven days, but we get advice on the phone only. I started coughing yesterday evening and that felt really scary as it was adding to the difficulty of things...didn’t cough overnight so maybe it was psychosomatic!

Booboostwo - that's what scares me. I was sent for a mammogram (in Italy) just before this started and luckily I managed to get the all clear. Must be so worrying for people not getting the tests they need.

Shenandoah9, I'm à teacher in France. We have been asked to volunteer to look after health-care workers children in my school. Nobody is forced to do it, so teachers who are fragile or who have young children to look after aren't required to go in. The children are to be kept in groups of 8-10 maximum in specially disinfected classrooms in the school. For the moment there are is no demand in my school...

Exercise is allowed. What about exercising children, who surely need more exercise than adults? Obviously they can't go for a solo run... could one take their children out to run up and down for a while (not in a park or playground)?

My husband told me he saw on Sky news that they announced last night that all French supermarkets are closing at midday today. If French residents who are kindly responding on here are not busy queuing to get supplies, could I ask, is this true, as I can't find any reference to it in French on line news? Or did he misunderstand and it has been announced that there will be restricted opening hours for supermarkets from today? @MickeyMouae199
Keep well, everyone.

Food shops should be open but you need a self-declaration form to say that is where you are going.
Waves to others from rural Normandy.

We have no news of supermarkets closing. Quite the opposite, a lot of reassurance that no one needs to stock up.

Yes you can take your children and dogs out to exercise them. Getting some fresh air is generally allowed, it's not limited to jogging.

If you can't work from home and don't have childcare, you will take sick leave.

No the supermarkets are not closing or reducing hours, your husband must have misunderstood, Jai

Thank you for this thread - really interesting.

I have flights out to Lyon on Saturday. Whilst clearly I can't go, Easyjet aren't canceling the flights - they are still selling for all the flights this week:0. Social media report that there are 4 hour waits to get through to speaking to someone....

Anyone know if /when the airports will close?

Seventyone72seventy3 I was going to ride today and let DD ride as well, but then it occurred to me that if either of us fell and had a minor injury like a broken arm we'd be in deep trouble. The horses will have a holiday while all this is going on (our horses are kept at home, so no traveling involved).

No news of supermarket closures here either.

@noFlowers employees in that situation are able to, exceptionally, take "sick" leave so that they can stay at home and still have money coming in

We haven't used any forms yet, but do you have to have a new one every time or can you just add a new date and signature? It will take a lot of trees if I need to print a new one every time I go for a walk.
Not an urgent question, just wondering.

@Booboostwo I hadn't thought about such consequences on the medical sector... That sounds really scary...

@missclimpson yes the rules state 1 outing = 1 form. However having a PDF version of the form on a mobile phone filled in using something like Acrobat is okay. That would save trees !

@Herja yes you can

Just to confirm from Ile De France, my local Carrefour supermarket are open this morning with no information about closing. There was a delivery whilst I was there...

Thank you to all you Froggies (meant in the nicest possible way, my father was one!) for telling me about the supermarkets, I thought my husband must have got it round his neck! Look after yourselves!

Anyone know if /when the airports will close?

No news of that happening, internal flights still running but total number of flights reduced, especially between UK and France.

Another here who has heard zilch about supermarkets closing ( doesn't sound credible IMHO).

Slightly off-topic from here in lovely France, but vaguely relevant.

My DD lives in Germany - they aren't yet on lockdown but she has been told to work from home. She has two little ones. Nurseries are closed until April and she told me yesterday that all the outside playgrounds are now closed for the foreseeable future.

@missclimpson My DS - suggested filling in the form and using an erasable pen for the date to avoid wasting loads of paper. Like all his generation, he is very environmentally aware, but did point out this morning that there’s a bit of a dilemma where reusable bags might be more environmentally friendly, but also more likely to harbour the virus. I don’t know anyone who has been asked to show their form yet - I get the feeling that if you are on your way home with a baguette, walking your dog alone etc there’s no problem. If you are loitering on bench or chatting in groups then that’s when you might be challenged.

That makes sense @LillianGish. I have never seen a gendarme in our commune of 60 souls, but will put the date in pencil!
Shopping will be different but only plan on that once a week.

@racheyg Just called the dentist to make an appointment as I'm pregnant and we're recommended to go for a check-up and all dentists are closed except for emergencies until further notice. So no check-up for me. 😔

Just checked with the midwife too and all non-essential appointments like ante-natal classes are also cancelled.

I don't want to freak you out kersh33 but my friend who went into labour yesterday was not allowed anyone in the hospital with her. Luckily it all went well and she has a lovely baby boy, but she found it very tough to do this without her partner.

Perhaps you can find some ante-natal classes on line?

@Booboostwo I think we're all going to have to take it as it comes in these times. I still have a bit of time before I deliver, was just trying to book in with the midwife I wanted. But will have to be patient - and if needed can definitely go online if needed. At the end of the day plenty of women have given birth without ante-natal classes!!

Shopping will be different but only plan on that once a week.

Yep, according to reports if you are planning on driving any distance you can (obviously) expect to stopped at some point, papers checked and quizzed as to the exact nature of your journey...