The Prime Minister hammered it, Thursday evening: the deconfinement, "it is not for tomorrow morning". Suffice to say that the travel restrictions, scheduled until April 15 at the earliest, may well last a few weeks. "The logic of containment must prevail at least for April 15, probably for longer," even said the head of government on TF1.
Of course, we are not the only ones concerned. Our close European neighbors have also implemented containment measures to combat the Covid-19 pandemic. If the overall framework is the same (limit movement, respect sanitary safety distances, etc.), the concrete measures are more or less firm. This is what we see by browsing the websites of the interior ministries or French embassies abroad, and by interviewing witnesses.
Certificate compulsory also in Italy
Italy is the first European country to have adopted general containment for the entire population. Since March 10, residents can no longer go out, with rare exceptions. The transalpine country is the only one among the main European states, with France, to impose the wearing of a certificate when you leave your home. As in France, you can download a model of this "autodichiarazione", print it, then fill in the missing parts.
Our Italian neighbor is also the country with the highest administrative fine for leaving the house without good reason. The amount, initially from 206 euros, rose to 400 euros since March 26, against 135 euros in France (200 euros in the event of recurrence within 15 days).
"The punishment is very harsh, and the conviction can even be criminal in the event of a repeat offense and a particularly serious violation of the rules," notes Italian journalist Alberto Toscano. Those who flout the rules after being tested positive for Covid-19 risk up to 3 to 18 months in prison, for example.
Individual sport? Not in Spain
Is it because the authorities of the country fear that the traditional conviviality and the mild climate will lead to abuse? In Spain, all outdoor sports are prohibited. There is no question of going out, even just doing a 20-minute mini-jog around the block.
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En cumplimiento del estado de alarma decretado por el Gobierno de la NaciĂłn por la evoluciĂłn del # COVID19, el Ayuntamiento pide a la ciudadanĂa el cumplimiento estricto las medidas tomadas 👇 #YoMeQuedoEnCasa # SĂ©Responsable #CoronavterMidrid. pic
On the other hand, you can always go to work, do your basic shopping or walk your dog but, as with any trip, "keeping the distances and the protection and safety measures", underlines the French Embassy in Madrid . To the point that our four-legged friends were the subject of haggling and loans between residents who wanted to get some fresh air. A resident was even arrested outside with a dog ... stuffed.
La PolicĂa advierte a una persona que paseaba a perro de peluche in Palencia. El hombre hacia ver que paseaba a perro, cuando en realidad trataba de un hecho de peluche. #coronavirus pic.twitter.com/4JzIo8v9sp
- La Vanguardia (@LaVanguardia) March 17, 2020In other countries, an individual outing for sports is authorized. It must be "close to home" in Italy and "only once a day" in the United Kingdom. In Italy, you can even cycle as part of a simple physical activity while in France, cycling is only allowed to go to work.
In Germany, a confinement… which does not say its name
The rules are much freer in Germany, where you can go out to run or cycle as much as you want and where you want, provided you maintain a safety distance with others of at least 1.5 meters . Furthermore, any movement in public space must be alone, with members of his household or with, at most, a person living elsewhere.
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“We go out every day and nobody asks us why. But the police can verbalize if they see a group of people together, for example, ”says Vincent, 36, who lives in Essen, in the north-west of the country.
The mayor of Berlin angry after the images of groups of Berliners who are still meeting in the parks today, does not rule out going into confinement #coronavirus https://t.co/0r384OMjaN
- Violette Bonnebas (@VioBonnebas) March 18, 2020The fact remains that the Chancellor has always refused to pronounce the word "confinement", leaving it to each Land to implement its own measures. The federal state simply "asked to limit social contacts, but not travel as such even if it comes down to the same thing," says Vincent.
For the rest, the level of confinement depends on the regions. If restaurants can remain open (only for take-away), their hours are shorter in Bavaria than in Berlin, for example. The same goes for the fine for non-compliance with social distancing, which is 1000 euros in Hesse and 500 euros in the capital.
The United Kingdom, the most flexible
The last of the five main European countries to have implemented population containment measures on March 24, the United Kingdom is also the least strict. No certificate is planned and "there is not really a police check on the street," says Constance, a 26-year-old French woman who lives in London. The reason? "The English are much more disciplined than the French and everyone rather respects confinement by staying at home", continues this young salesperson.
VIDEO. Coronavirus: "In London, confinement is not strict at all" says a Frenchwoman
"The police will act with discretion and common sense in the application of these measures and we expect the public to act responsibly, staying at home to save lives," reads the site. of the British government.
There is one thing that brings all these countries together: containment is very likely to be prolonged, as the spread of the epidemic continues. France, Italy, Spain and Germany have already postponed the end date for the first time.
