The national deconfinement plan is presented on April 28 before the National Assembly by the Prime Minister. Here are the main directions.
“It’s time to tell France how our life will resume”. It was in a solemn tone that the Prime Minister began his presentation of the national containment plan in front of 75 deputies in the National Assembly.
A plan based on three principles
Edouard Philippe’s plan revolves around three axes: protect, test, isolate.
– We will have to live with the virus which will continue to circulate
– We must move forward with caution and progressively insofar as the risk of a second wave is to be taken seriously
– The situation is not uniform between the territories, it is necessary to take them into account and leave to the local authorities the possibility of adapting the national strategy.
May 11
The confirmation of deconfinement on this date is linked to the achievement of a drop in contamination of up to 3,000 cases per day. If this meeting is held, a first phase will last until June 2. “If the indicators are not there, we will not deconsign on May 11” warns Edouard Philippe. Deconfinement will therefore be done in stages, depending on the circulation of the virus in the departments. From Thursday April 30, the director general of health, Jérôme Salomon, will present a detailed map of the circulation of the virus every day, so that the authorities can prepare for deconfinement.
Masks
Twenty million washable masks will be available from May 11, 50% of the cost of masks ordered by local authorities will be borne by the State. They will be mandatory for students and staff in colleges.
The tests
From May 11, 700,000 tests will be carried out each week and 100% covered by Health Insurance. Positive patients and contact cases should be identified. City medicine will be involved in this objective. Departmental brigades will determine the orientation of people who test positive. “Isolation is not a punishment it must be explained and agreed to”, underlined Edouard Philippe. The goal is to rely on everyone’s civic-mindedness.
The StopCovid application, developed with other European countries, can only be complementary. It would be a good solution in urban centers to identify contact cases. The question of freedoms will be debated in Parliament and a vote will take place before its deployment.
The reopening of schools, colleges and high schools
On May 11, kindergartens and schools will reopen across the country, but only on a voluntary basis. In a second step, colleagues will also open, but only from May 18, starting with the sixth and fifth grades, and only in regions where the circulation of the virus is limited. On the other hand, concerning high schools, the decision to open them will be taken at the end of May.
Obviously, students in kindergarten and early childhood will not be required to wear masks. For primary schools, masks will be optional but nevertheless distributed to school directors to equip students who develop symptoms during the day. For colleges, wearing a mask for students is compulsory. In all establishments, the Prime Minister recommends having no more than 15 students per class. Finally, strict measures will accompany these reopenings.
Nurseries will also reopen on May 11, with masks for professionals and children who will be welcomed in groups of less than 10.
Work and telecommuting
Telework should be encouraged wherever possible within 3 weeks of May 11.
The schedules must be arranged to avoid the influx into the premises and into transport. Workspaces must be set up.
The partial activity system will remain in place until June 1
Businesses
All businesses will reopen from May 11, with the exception of cafes and restaurants, the resumption of which will be decided at the end of May. The markets will be able to resume under conditions of precautionary and distancing measures, but the prefects will be able to veto it.
A trader may make access to his store subject to wearing a mask, and filter entry to his establishment to limit the number of people inside.
Shopping centers over 40,000m2 may experience more restrictive measures, with the exception of food stores.
Transportation
The urban transport offer will be quickly increased, with in particular 70% of RATP traffic provided from May 11. However, transport at peak times will have to be reserved for those who work.
Wearing a mask will be compulsory in the metro and buses with condemnation of one seat in two. School buses also fall into this category. Wearing a mask will be compulsory in taxis and VTCs which do not have a separating window between the front and the back.
Interdepartmental travel will be reduced to compelling professional or family reasons only, with rail traffic remaining limited and individual travel supervised. A certificate will be required for journeys over 100 kilometres. “Ascension weekend will not be the time to go on a weekend”said Edouard Philippe.
The beaches will remain inaccessible at least until 1er June.
Hobbies
Individual sports activities will be authorized beyond the limit of one kilometer without the need for certification. On the other hand, team sports, activities in a closed environment and contact sports are still prohibited. The football championship will not resume until September.
Small museums will be able to reopen from May 11. On the other hand, for the large museums which attract a lot of public, cinemas, performance halls and places for the general public will open from June 2.
Likewise, on May 11, places of worship will be open to the public again, but religious ceremonies can only be celebrated from June 2. Funeral burials will be possible within the limit of 20 people, and cemeteries will reopen from May 11.
Weddings are again postponed, and gatherings in private places and on public roads of more than ten people are still prohibited.
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