France lockdown 2 - vers un deconfinement

[CroissantsAtDawn]

2nd thread discussing the lockdown in France and the impending deconfinement...

First thread here:
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/coronavirus/3850860-Lockdown-conditions-in-France

[Watchagotcha]

Bonsoir mes amis!

We made it to the holidays!

Looking forward to rentrée, does anyone know what the plans are for group sports activities? I had a plan to take up karate this year, but I don’t know if this is likely to happen. All my DCs activities have said that things “should” go back more or less as normal (gym, parkour). But I guess there is no contact required for them.

Any ideas?

[Chaotic45]

Thanks very much to the posters who kindly gave advice about visiting France, it is much appreciated.

It sounds like things are looking really positive for you all- fantastic! Hopefully the UK will follow suit before too long.

[Chaotic45]

Thanks very much to the posters who kindly gave advice about visiting France, it is much appreciated.

It sounds like things are looking really positive for you all- fantastic! Hopefully the UK will follow suit before too long.

[magimedi]

Quick question, if I may, about auto route service areas.

I assume they are open & that the loos are as well? Coming to see the family soon & can't drive for 6 hours without a pee!

Merci.

[Watchagotcha]

@magimedi

Yes they are open... we drive from central to south of France last Monday and everything was normal at the service stations - albeit they were a lot quieter than usual. Masks were not obligatory in the ones we stopped at.

That's a question for you all actually... how busy are you finding the touristy spots? We are in the Minervois (tiny village, family maison secondaire), everything seems to be very quiet, though there were a lot of NL / D / DK / B cars on the péage on the way down. We haven't ventured into any really touristy areas down on the coast yet though: anyone in the Aigue-Motes / Leucate / Argèles strip?

We are heading north to camp on the Dordogne, then down to Leucate in August (and for the latter we had no problem getting booked in a campsite, which is unusual this late in the season).

So for those of you holidaying in France, how busy is it where you are?

[magimedi]

Thankyou, Watcha

Are the loos open in the aires as well as the services?

[Watchagotcha]

Yes they are AFAIK, we didn't stop but saw people washing their hands at the toilet blocks, and plenty people were stopped at them for picnics.

[Coquohvan]

@Whatcha
Regarding tourists spots, we’ve filled 6 weeks Of bookings (previously c/x ) between yesterday and today with enquiries. So I’d say Nouvelle Aquitaine will be busy from next weekend through to September.

[Bandol]

How's everyone getting on now?

Other than masks and distancing measures, life is fairly normal now. Both DH and I are going to our respective offices everyday. However we now have to wear masks whenever we are not at our desks. DC are going to centre de loisirs.

Quick question, have you found rubber washing up gloves in your local supermarket? I couldn't get any in large in my local supermarket and when I looked in Leclerc there wasn't a single rubber glove of any sort on the shelf. That's the only thing that I've noticed seems to be in a sustained shortage in my area.

I've got all the school supplies bought this week!

[Humphriescushion]

Oh glad someone posted. Yes life is back to normal, ( i am worrying about the increase in cases but fingers crossed). Have not looked for rubber gloves i will have a look and report back.

I sat my TCF test last week for my French level for nationality! Was stressful but done! Result ok, a fair representation of how i performed but a bit disappointing but is done. I have to resend application but think i finally have everthing ( only took 6 months for me to put the pack togther.
Hope all doing ok.

[SomethingOfTheNight]

Would someone be kind enough to advise please whether i am allowed to stay with friends in Paris for one week in August? I am travelling from England. I appreciate that self isolation is not yet required upon my return to the UK but that this is subject to change.

[Humphriescushion]

In theory yes @ something. You will need masks etc, however cases are rising and it would concern me re quarantine etc.

[Wallywobbles]

Anyone interested in picking this up again.

I'm back working from home but the hours have gone through the roof. 70h the last 3 weeks with 2 more the same.

Uni unlikely to pay before March - they only pay once a semester way after it's finished. Then marking til Christmas.

Loads of teacher training for the online system and a meeting today as I'm putting the exams online. Should be interesting.

DD1 every other week at Lycee. Other 3 still at school. Trains constantly bloody cancelled.

DH télébranlage 1 or 2 days a week so we have the concrete base down for the terrace that I thought I'd have to wait a decade for.

Mixed bag really.

[Humphriescushion]

Hello wallywobbles, good call, I am in. Sounds really difficult re work and especially not being paid till march! Hope everyone else is doing ok?

[whopooedinthepyrex]

Nice to see this discussion back.

I live very rurally so possibly have a skewed view of what is going on in the towns and cities - judging by some of the stuff I saw on France24 people are not being as compliant this time around.

Everyone around these parts seems to be taking it seriously and there is also a big effort to support local businesses who are trying their best to diversify into take away menus.

Our nearest supermarket isn't that large, but I did see that the non-essential items were all securely taped off when I ventured there at the weekend.

I think I read this morning that numbers are starting to fall (can't find where I read it now - happy to be corrected!) so hopefully this second lockdown has had a positive effect.

We are extraordinarily fortunate not to have been badly affected by all this (kids grown up and DH can work from home) but I haven't seen my son for almost a year and I can't go and see my daughter and grandchildren either as we all live in different countries.

Just imagine if we had to go through all this without the internet and smart phones to keep in touch.

What are your thoughts on what will happen when this lockdown period comes to an end?

[whopooedinthepyrex]

It was a comment on the BBC that I read earlier:

"There is some encouraging news from France, which remains under a strict lockdown. Health Minister Olivier Véran says the infection rate has fallen in the past 10 days, “which suggests we have passed a peak in the epidemic”, but he warned: "We have not won against the virus yet""

[Iamagree]

Bonsoir, all. The danger is that they relax some of the rules to allow people to travel and see family legally for Christmas, and give in to the pressure to reopen shops, then everyone throws themselves into festive socialising and we're back to square one in January...

[KatharinaRosalie]

Hey all, yes numbers are going down nicely, you can see the incidence rates, test positivity and R0 all falling rapidly. www.gouvernement.fr/info-coronavirus/carte-et-donnees
Click on carte des indicateurs

It really does not feel like a confinement at all here in Haut Rhin. Last time we were the epicentre but now we have not been affected that much, still room in ICU. And of course, schools and borders are fully open, so people seem to go about their business pretty much as usual.

My office again strongly recommended that we work from home, so that's what I've been doing. But not having to homeschool at the same time makes all the difference.

[whopooedinthepyrex]

Thank you for the link @KatharinaRosalie.

@Iamagree I think that is the worry for everyone. We are in a very touristy area and it was a bit of a shock in the summer to suddenly be flooded with visitors after a very quiet initial lockdown. Definitely not such a popular area in the winter (even for the second home owners) so maybe we can come ut of this and stay safe and sensible.

[Iamagree]

Bars and restaurants to stay closed until January!
I do feel for them, although the spectacle of people removing masks on arrival at the bar to "faire la bise" then putting it back on explains a certain amount of transmission early autumn!

[whopooedinthepyrex]

@Iamagree

Has there been a new announcement today?

[Iamagree]

www.francetvinfo.fr/sante/maladie/coronavirus/confinement/covid-19-pas-de-reouverturedes-cafes-bars-et-restaurants-avant-la-fin-de-l-annee-2020_4183927.html
Not an announcement as such but they seem to be paving the way for a longer shutdown of restaurants and cafes - announcement to come next week, it appears.

[KatharinaRosalie]

Oh wow hope they will have a proper social plan for all the bars and restaurants then, shutting them in high season.
Although considering how proudly they announced the massive pay increase of 100 EUR for beginner teachers, I very much doubt it..

[HilaryThorpe]

Hi everyone. Name change since last thread but retired in rural Normandy. We are just about to sign a (virtual) compromis on our house and then one on a house we found just before lockdown. Serious downsizing so trying to get rid of stuff. Lockdown feels harder this time.

[Wallywobbles]

I've got more of a houseful adults wise. I have 2 extra stay at home adults with me so that's different. Maybe better maybe not. So 6 for supper one week and 8 the next week which is pretty hardcore.

I'm struggling with the quantity of work I have to get through - 9h on zoom a day can't be a good thing. Then prep for the next day. Weekends spent marking. I'm literally drowning.

Firefighting the endless help emails from colleagues who have arrived so so late to online lesson planning and posting. We've had training since May and they refused to go....

But I've got to say it feels no different when I'm out than the summer did. Masks everywhere, sanitize hands etc

And definitely less risky than teaching at the uni where social distancing was at best 5cm in some classes.