The situation currently in France.
Big update today as we enter our 7th week of lockdown here in France. The Prime Minister presented to the parliament, the government's plan moving forward out of lockdown for a vote.
First, a few of you have shown an interest in how the French political system works. For this vote, the parliament only allowed 75 people into the arena, sitting 2 meters apart. Normally, there are hundreds. But the top 8 political parties sent their representatives for a total of 75 people. At the end, the Prime Minister got a standing ovation, so I have no doubt this plan for "déconfinement" will go into law.
First, the PM, Edouard Philippe, stressed that all decisions were made in accordance with 3 goals in mind.
1. We have to learn to live with the virus. France is far, far from "herd immunity". It is here to stay and our way of life is going to change until a vaccine is found.
2. They are going to try to avoid the "second wave" of infection once everything opens up again.
3. There are vast differences between départements, (like counties in the US), and so, the government is going to make decisions based on which département is allowed to do what.
To control the 2nd Wave, they are going to be conducting around 700,000 tests per week. Their math was calculated by assuming 3,000 new cases per day after May 11. After confinement on 11 May, they calculate that those 3,000 people will have been in contact with 20-25 other people every day. Since it takes, on average, 7 days for these 3,000 people to get symptoms and get tested, they will have come into contact with 175 people that week. Which equals 525,000 tests per week but, to be on the safe side, they are allowing 700,000 tests per week.
These 3,000 people who test positive every day have a choice of going into quarantine in their own home or into a hotel the government is requisitioning.
Also, to control the 2nd wave, they are not discounting its' use in the future, but, for right now, since it doesn't work, they are not going to be using the tracking app called Stop-Covid.
And, if at any time between now and the day of déconfinement, 11 May, the numbers go up and certain criteria are not met, they are reserving the right to change anything else that I am about to tell you and\or extend our lockdown.
So here we go.
1. We are all on probation between 11 May and 2 June. If we all behave and follow the rules, we go into 2nd Probation, which is 2 June to mid-July. In other words, baby steps.
2. We are now divided into Red Départements and Green Départements. Red Zones will have limited circulation. Green Zones will have a higher level of circulation.
This is based on 3 criteria. A) The rate of active cases in the population remains elevated over the course of any given 7 days, indicating an active virus in the area. B) The hospital capacity remains overwhelmed, and, C) The testing capacity and the system of tracking the chains of contamination of each positive case are deemed to be insufficient. BOOM. Red Zone.
3. Schools. Starting from the youngest. Day care centers open 11 May. Health care workers and teachers are to be given priority to available spots. 10 kids allowed, maximum, unless it is a BIG day care center and they are able to divide into enough big spaces to ensure a completely autonomous space for each 10 kids. None of the 10 kids or their caregivers can meet\mingle in any common area, ever, within the facility. Masks obligatory for staff. Masks prohibited for infants\children.
Preschools and elementary schools. Open 11 May, but voluntary in both Red and Green Zones. If you don't want to send your kid, you don't have to. Masks are prohibited in this age group of kids, except the school nurse will have masks on hand to give out to a child between the time they start to exhibit symptoms and when the parent comes to pick them up.
Middle schools begin in Green Zones 18 May. Masks are obligatory for this age group, both teachers and students. Middle schools in Red Zones to be determined.
High Schools and Higher Education in Green Zones start beginning of June. Masks obligatory. Red Zones, who knows?
4. Work. Employers must continue to find any way to let their workers work from home, even after 11 May. If it is not possible, then the employers must try to stagger the hours their people are working in order to do 2 things: avoid having multiple people in the office\factory at one time and to also alleviate the crowds on public transport. If the employer cannot guarantee social distancing between employees, they must wear masks.
5. Commerce. All commerce is allowed to open on 11 May except cafés, bars, restaurants and hotels. Masks are recommended while shopping, but not obligatory. However, any shop owner can make the wearing of masks obligatory in their shop. As far as malls, it is up to each préfecture, (county seat), to determine if the open areas of their malls where people like to gather shall remain open or roped off.
6. Public Transport. Right now, public transport is running at about 6% of its' normal capacity. On 11 May, they anticipate that public transport will be running at about 30%. And, on these reduced métros, trains, buses, etc., it will be obligatory to wear masks. No one is allowed on the public transport during rush hour except workers. Social distancing will be maintained by blocking every other seat and taping lines on the platforms 1 meter apart for those waiting for the train, bus, métro, etc.
7. Going Outside Your House. After 11 May you no longer have to bring our famous piece of paper with you, (l'Attestation de Déplacement Dérogatoire), except in the case of traveling more than 100km. The only two reasons you are allowed to travel from one département to another or one région to another is that it is imperative to your work or you have an extremely pressing family obligation.
We are now allowed, after 11 May, to venture further than 1km from our house to pursue individual sports, like jogging or biking or hiking. We must still maintain social distancing during this.
Still not allowed: collective sports, sports taking place under a roof in an enclosed space, (sorry gyms), contact sports.
Public parks and gardens in Green Zones will be open. All beaches closed, red or green, until at least 1 June.
8. Cultural Life. Libraries and small museums can open 11 May. Community Halls can open 2 June.
No big museums, cinemas, theaters, concert halls until further notice. (Sorry, Louvre.)
Maybe September: big sporting events, cultural events, festivals, trade shows, anything of more than 5,000 people. Soccer season (professional football) 2019-2020 cancelled altogether.
9. Churches, Marriages, Funerals, Gatherings
Church doors can remain open, like always, even now, but mass cannot begin until 2 June. (Americans, our beautiful churches here are always open for people to just come in and ogle at the architecture or light a candle for a saint or whatever.)
Marriages and funerals will be allowed after 2 June with a maximum of 20 people.
Cemetairies open back up on 11 May.
All gatherings in public places, (i.e. parks), or private places, (i.e. your deck), from 11 May onward are limited to 10 people.
