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France almost deconfigured

2020-05-28T19:06:55.888Z


Edouard Philippe announced Thursday the lifting of the majority of the restrictions." Liberty is once again the rule and prohibition is the exception" . It is with these words that Prime Minister Edouard Philippe presented Thursday the second stage of deconfinement, while welcoming that the health results are "good" . The noose is clearly loosened for this phase 2, which officially begins Tuesday, June 2, and even before for certain measures. The first of them, one of the most aw...


" Liberty is once again the rule and prohibition is the exception" . It is with these words that Prime Minister Edouard Philippe presented Thursday the second stage of deconfinement, while welcoming that the health results are "good" . The noose is clearly loosened for this phase 2, which officially begins Tuesday, June 2, and even before for certain measures. The first of them, one of the most awaited by this good weather, concerns the reopening of parks and gardens. In the capital, the closure of green spaces had been the subject of a showdown between Anne Hidalgo and the government. "They will now be accessible this weekend everywhere in France", assured the Prime Minister. In addition, throughout the country, beaches, lakes and museums will be opened again. Children can even go to summer camp from June 22. All remaining restrictions must be reassessed on the same date.

● Wearing the recommended mask

The wearing of a mask is recommended in public spaces by the government. It may also be taxed in public spaces, locally, at the request of the mayor. In addition, in public transport in Ile-de-France, the employer's certificate to go to work at peak hours in the morning and in the evening "remains in force ", the Prime Minister reaffirms. "We will see with the public transport management authorities whether it should be maintained. Contact was made with the president of Île-de-France, Valérie Pécresse, to see if we could gradually lift it ” .

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● The 100-kilometer rule removed on Tuesday

The way is finally cleared. After weeks of waiting and hard negotiations within the government, Edouard Philippe broke the lock on the 100 kilometers beyond which it was forbidden, without exception, to move from his place of residence. "This measure has been well respected, but it no longer has any justification," said the Prime Minister on Thursday, who therefore unleashes travel to France from next Tuesday. "The abolition of this rule should not justify a loosening of attention," warns the head of government who adds: "If we can postpone a long distance move, it is reasonable" . This call for caution sounds like a pledge given to those who have tried until the last minute to impose a radius of 300 kilometers. The decrease in the circulation of the virus has overcome the fears of the scientific community. The Secretary of State for Tourism, spurred on by a whole industry on the verge of asphyxiation, had sold a match on Monday, saying that the government was working on "a significant widening" of travel restrictions. Matignon's decision was announced on Wednesday evening, when it was time to lock out the arbitrations. The defense council, held Thursday morning under the authority of the President of the Republic, approved it. For the police, it is relief. Police and gendarmes never had the digital tools, nor precise instructions to enforce this transitional measure. "It's the end of a puzzle , " breathes, relieved, a field officer. Taken over by the resumption of thefts, burglaries and assaults, the workforce will be able to focus on their core business: tracking down delinquency.

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● Restaurants and bars reopen under conditions

From June 2, cafes, bars and restaurants can reopen in the green departments. In the orange zones (Île-de-France, Guyana and Mayotte) and at least for the next three weeks, the government continues to impose the closure of establishments, with the exception of the terraces. With the authorization of the mayors, some are already preparing to leave more tables than usual, in order to partially offset the ban on opening their rooms. As agreed with professionals, the minimum space will be at least one meter between each group of customers, which will be limited to ten people maximum. Edouard Philippe also clarified that wearing a mask would be compulsory for staff, in the dining room and in the kitchen. Customers will also need to wear one as soon as they travel. "Standing consumption will not be allowed indoors," warns the minister. The end of coffee at the counter? Nightclubs and game rooms remain closed.

Read also: Restaurants: top chefs worried about reopening too quickly

● Teleworking still preferred

The economy is certainly the government's major concern. If "telework must always be privileged" , insisted the Prime Minister during his press conference, he especially called for "a vigorous resumption" of activity. In fact, it alone can ward off the “economic and social emergency that is already there,” insisted Edouard Philippe. The containment plan that forced the executive to shut down the economy will indeed - despite unprecedented state support measures now translating into business bankruptcies and destruction of jobs. The figures published this Thursday by Pôle emploi are just a first illustration: nearly 850,000 new registrants in category A were identified by the agency in April (see also page 20) . "This is historic," noted the Prime Minister, saying that "a new front is opening today and that the country will have to fight against an unprecedented recession" . The National Institute for Official Statistics announced earlier this week that gross domestic product (GDP) is likely to plunge 20% in the second quarter. In addition, the Prime Minister confirmed that in order to avoid abuses, there would be “increased controls” of the companies which continue to appeal to short-time working - device which will besides begin to become less generous from the month of June.

● Schools, colleges and high schools are gradually reopening

Schools will very cautiously continue their reopening which started on May 11. "While today, only 82.5% of schools are open, they will be 100% on June 2," says Jean-Michel Blanquer. For the moment, only 14% of schoolchildren have been accommodated in the red zone and 22% in the green zone. "The very strict school health protocol remains unchanged," he continues. The number of pupils welcomed and their class days should remain limited. Only fifteen students per class, at best, can return to school at the same time.

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Now open in the green zone for the sixth and fifth grades, the colleges will also open their doors to the fourth and third classes, still in the green zone. A part of the young middle school students from Ile-de-France enrolled in sixth and fifth years, and until then confined to their homes, will finally be able to resume, still respecting the protocol, the way to classrooms. The lycées will also open but very partially, in the green zone, since the heads of establishments are only required to open one level. In the orange zone, only professional lycées will welcome students but with enrollment limited to CAP and terminales. General and technological high school students will only set foot in their establishment again for an "educational interview" . "We will be much more in the symbol than in the workforce," notes Philippe Vincent, head of Snpden-Unsa, the main union of heads of secondary schools.

● Oral of the French bac canceled

Jean-Michel Blanquer has long led the 525,000 first-year high school students to believe that they would pass their oral exams in French when all the other tests had been canceled and will be assessed in terms of continuous assessment. "They will thank me for studying Phèdre during confinement," he said. After final consultations with teachers' unions and high school representatives, fiercely opposed to the holding of this test, he decided to cancel it. "After weeks of unbearable waiting, it is a relief for the students and their teachers," triumphed Snes-Fsu, the first teachers' union. The minister justified his decision by "the uneven preparation of high school students" . Still on Wednesday evening, he still pleaded for a maintenance, observing that a "silent majority" of high school students was not necessarily opposed to the holding of this test. Those who could hope, as often, to have better oral notes than in written French ...

● Collective and contact sports still prohibited

The resumption of sports will therefore be able to accelerate during Act 2 of deconfinement. The reopening of parks and gardens, especially in big cities, was eagerly awaited by enthusiasts of running who can now enjoy themselves without any restrictions.

After authorizing individual outdoor practice on May 11, the authorities maintained this Thursday the ban on team sports and contact (boxing, judo ...) and confirmed the closure of stadiums (and racetracks) at least until June 21, regardless of their location. They have however authorized the reopening of swimming pools, gymnasiums and sports halls in the "green" departments, strict rules having to be put in place to limit the number of swimmers, athletes ... "It was a much awaited decision" , recognized Edouard Philippe, indicating that these same facilities would remain closed at least until June 21 in “orange” departments, such as Ile-de-France.

Regarding top athletes and professionals, they can resume training in a controlled setting. This will strengthen Jean-Michel Aulas, the president of OL, in his desire to relaunch the French football championship. The English Premier League has just announced its resumption on June 17, after the German Bundesliga and the Spanish Liga.

Source: lefigaro

All news articles on 2020-05-28

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