Coronavirus: announcements on progressive deconfinement in three stages

Emmanuel Macron has announced the stages of a “gradual deconfinement”: small businesses will be able to reopen from November 28, the one kilometer-one hour rule has been extended. The end of confinement is scheduled for December 15, it will be replaced by a national curfew. The reopening of bars and restaurants is set for January 20.

During a speech this Tuesday at 8 p.m. the President of the Republic Emmanuel Macron said words expected by many French people. If France has crossed the barrier of 50,000 deaths from the coronavirus, the ebb of the second wave has been confirmed for a few days. “The peak of the second wave has passed,” said the head of state before setting the course for the next few weeks. A gradual deconfinement in three stages, which fixes in particular the eagerly awaited reopening of “non-essential” businesses.

“All shops will be able to reopen from Saturday, November 28 in the morning,” announced Emmanuel Macron. A reopening which will be done within “the framework of a strict sanitary protocol” and until 9 pm maximum. If health indicators are below 5,000 cases and 2,500 to 3,000 patients in intensive care, bars and restaurants will be able to open on January 20, also specified the president.

At the same time, worship services will be permitted up to a limit of 30 people, while extracurricular activities will be permitted. “Bookstores, record stores and libraries” may also reopen on this date.

The “one kilometer for an hour” rule in force for walking is extended from November 28. It will be limited to 20 kilometers for three hours.

Containment will be lifted on December 15 if the health situation continues to improve and will be replaced by a national curfew from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m., with an exception for the evenings of December 24 and 31 when traffic will be free, Emmanuel Macron announced on Tuesday. As of December 15, “we will therefore be able to move again without authorization, including between regions, and spend Christmas with the family” but by limiting “unnecessary travel”, announced the Head of State, who had decreed the re-containment on October 28.

The reopening of “cinemas, theaters and museums” if the confinement can be lifted by that date as provided by the executive. If the new daily contaminations remain around 5,000 and the number of people in intensive care between 2,500 and 3,000, “the confinement could be lifted” on December 15 and “cinemas, theaters and museums will be able to resume their activity” in the compliance with a strict health protocol, declared the Head of State during his televised address. “A time-stamping system will allow the organization of performances at the end of the day,” said the president.

“Outdoor extracurricular activities will be authorized again” from Saturday, and on December 15 indoors. On that date, “extracurricular activities indoors for the reception of children during the holidays will again be authorized, with strict rules”, he said.

Emmanuel Macron considered “impossible” the opening of winter sports resorts before the end of the year holidays due to the health risks linked to the Covid-19 epidemic, and indicated that “the decisions will be finalized very soon “. “A consultation has been initiated by the government with local elected officials and professionals but it nevertheless seems impossible to me to envisage an opening for the holidays”, said the President of the Republic, who wishes “to prefer a reopening in January. in good conditions “and European coordination on the subject.

High schools can be “fully open, with all students” around January 20, if the number of daily infections by Covid-19 in France remains below 5,000, Emmanuel Macron announced Tuesday in a televised address. . Two weeks after high schools, “it is the universities which will be able to resume classes, with there also a physical presence of all the students,” added the President of the Republic, who announced at the end of October the suspension of face-to-face classes in the universities and grandes écoles.

Vaccination against Covid-19 will not be compulsory and the campaign will begin “from the end of December, the beginning of January” for “the most fragile people”, announced the head of state. “Some (vaccines) will be available from the end of December, beginning of January, and a second generation will arrive in the spring,” he said in a televised address, assuring that France, with the European Union had “secured (e) the number of doses “required.

Companies “which will remain administratively closed” in the coming weeks, such as restaurants, will be able to obtain aid corresponding to 20% of their annual turnover, instead of the 10,000 euros already offered, Emmanuel Macron said on Tuesday. “Restaurants, bars, sports halls, nightclubs, all establishments which will remain administratively closed will be paid, whatever their size, 20% of their turnover for the year 2019 if this option is preferable for them to 10,000 euros from the solidarity fund, “said the Head of State during a televised address.

We must “do everything to avoid a third wave” of the Covid-19 epidemic and “do everything to avoid a third confinement”, also specified Emmanuel Macron during his speech. “If we do not want to undergo a third confinement tomorrow, we must redouble our vigilance: protect our loved ones, in particular the most vulnerable, by wearing the mask, including at home when we are with friends or with relatives who do not ‘do not live with us on a daily basis, “he urged.

The president thus called on Parliament to provide “the conditions to ensure the isolation” of positive coronavirus cases.
“I hope that the government and the Parliament provide the conditions to ensure the isolation of infected people, including in a more restrictive way”, declared the head of state, without mentioning compulsory isolation. Moreover, he did not indicate whether any sanctions or fines could be applied.

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Gabriel MIHAI

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