The following has been issued by the British Embassy in Paris;
Covid Update - 8 May
British Embassy Paris·Friday, 8 May 2020·7 minutes
A further update for British citizens in France following Prime Minister Edouard Philippe’s press conference with ministers on de-confinement yesterday
Deconfinement Summary
The Prime Minister confirmed that a very gradual de-confinement process will begin on Monday 11 May for all of France. Over the coming weeks, a balance will have to be struck between resuming ‘normal’ life and respecting the health measures which protect us. Further detail will be made public in the coming days. The objective is to be able to live with the virus and learn how to protect ourselves without a vaccine, treatment or collective immunity. Monday 11 May will mark a new phase. Collective responsibility, including by respecting social distancing measures, is even more important in de-confinement.
The de-confinement strategy has been guided by three key indicators in each département: the level of the virus circulating, the strain on hospitals and the capacity for testing. As we previously reported, this has resulted in some parts of the country being designated green, and others red (l'Ile-de-France, les Hauts-de-France, le Grand Est et la Bourgogne-Franche-Comté). However, the epidemic evolves daily and the red and green areas of the map could change. If green départements continue to see a low number of cases over the next three weeks, they will enter a further stage of de-confinement which could see lycées, restaurants, and cafés re-open from 2 June in line with health measures. The less good news is that red départements will adhere to stricter and slower de-confinement measures – parks and gardens will not re-open next week, and collèges will not open from 18 May.
There will be no compulsory confinement for the most vulnerable, such as the elderly and those with pre-existing conditions. However, these groups should continue to observe strict prudence, resembling the measures of the last two months, in order to protect themselves and others.
Health
If you have Covid symptoms, act immediately: contact your doctor or call 15. After answering some questions, a test will be made available to you at a lab, hospital, drive-through or at home – you should stay at home to await results. Self-isolate until two days after you recover (between 8-10 days). The cost of the test will be 100% covered by l’Assurance Maladie. If you test positive, you will be taken care of and l’Assurance Maladie will begin an investigation into who you have been in contact with. When self-isolating, stay in one room if you share a home, do not touch others or objects they might touch, air the room frequently, disinfect objects you touch, wash your hands regularly, do not accept visitors unless from doctors, and wear a mask. If you are contacted by l’Assurance Maladie because you have been in contact with someone who has tested positive, you should self-isolate, take your temperature twice a day, and work from home if possible. After seven days, if you test negative, you will self-isolate for a further sevendays. If self-isolation is not possible at home, you will be directed to a designated hotel.
Visits to retirement homes will be possible but limited as carers progressively return to work. For non Covid-19 illnesses, consult a doctor over the phone, and go to hospital for emergencies. If you are vulnerable, you should always wear a mask outside of home. Consultations are 100% covered by l’Assurance Maladie. Contact the Red Cross if you need help for loneliness (and take a look at our previous post on health and wellbeing).
Education
A strict health protocol has been implemented to re-open schools – you can access this on the education ministry’s website – and classes will be limited to 15 students (or 10 in maternelle). In green départements, on Monday 11 May primaires will re-open, and on 18 May collèges will re-open. On 11 May all elementary school teachers will return to work (or 12 May depending on the size and location of the school); however, students will not all return to school at the same time. Priority will be given to children of key workers, disabled children and children at risk of marginalisation. Parents will be informed this week as to the gradual return of their children’s schools. Four different educational options vary from home schooling to returning to school, depending on the local situation. Between 80-85% of schools will re-open to a little over one million students from 12 May.
Transport
The French government wants to achieve a resumption of ‘normal’ services by 2 June, whilst continuing social distancing measures. RATP will increase its services from 30% today to 75% from Monday 11 May. In the Ile-de-France, transport will be limited at rush hours to those with an attestation for essential travel, for example, for childcare, healthcare or work. Some stations will be closed to avoid overcrowding. Travelling on a TGV or on transport in the Ile de France at rush hour without an attestation will result in a fine. Those who can continue to work from home should do so.
To avoid traffic and keep pollution low car-sharing schemes or bicycles are recommended. Transport to other regions will be very limited, with TGV and Intercité services rising from 7% to 20-30% by Monday 11 May and 100% by the end of the month. Train capacity will be limited at 50% and tickets must be booked in advance. Travellers over the age of 11 must wear masks or face a fine of €135. Masks and hand sanitiser will be made available. Floor markings will be put in place to aid social distancing measures, and all means of transport (trains, busses, trams and metros) will be disinfected at least once a day.
Travel & Social
You will be free to travel up to 100km (as the crow flies) from your home, including outside your home département, or to travel more than 100km if your trip remains within your home département, without restriction or attestation. If you are stopped by the police, carrying proof of address, e.g. insurance documents, will suffice. In order to travel more than 100km from home, you will need a new type of online or paper attestation, which you can find on the Interior Ministry website from 11 May. Travelling more than 100km for urgent family or work reasons is permitted, e.g. to help an elderly parent, attend a funeral, for childcare, but travelling to a second home or travelling for leisure would not count. 20,000 police and gendarmes will be checking attestations at stations, tourist locations, and on the roads, and you may be fined €135 if you travel more than 100km without the attestation. If you travel, you will need to carry proof of address. Anyone who has been in confinement away from home, e.g. at a second home, is now allowed to travel home.
Libraries and small museums will re-open from Monday. Cinemas, music venues and indoor sports halls will remain closed. Individual outdoor sport will be permitted. Gatherings will be limited to 10 people, and you must observe social distancing measures. There will be no events of over 5,000 people until September. Beaches and lakes remain closed, unless re-opened by mayors and préféctures if they can guarantee social distancing measures – please check with your local authority in the first instance. A discussion on re-opening places of worship for services will take place at the end of the month.
Border restrictions on arrivals from outside Europe remain in place until further notice, and current measures at the border with neighbouring European countries will remain in place until 15 June. There will be some exceptions, for example for essential schooling, or for workers, for example seasonal agricultural workers. Borders will re-open to European countries through joint decisions as the health situation improves.
Business and Working Practices
All business will re-open on Monday 11 May, except for those designed as social spaces such as cafés, bars and restaurants - the date for these will be determined at the end of May. 400,000 businesses will re-open on Monday, from hairdressers to clothes shops and florists to book shops. Large shopping centres of 40,000m² will re-open, except in the Ile-de-France. Factories will re-open. The self-employed and SMEs will continue to have access to solidarity funds until the end of May even if they re-open for business. Social charges for businesses which closed from March, April and May will not be maintained.
Health precautions such as social distancing will be implemented at work. Masks will be made available in shops, mairies, pharmacies, online and at work with VAT at 5.5%. People should continue to work remotely if possible – this is especially crucial in the Ile-de-France. Staggered working hours will be brought in to avoid rush hours. 54 online guides are available for businesses such as hairdressers. A separate guide for apprenticeships will be made available.
