A three-step strategy.
Even if France has just crossed the sadly symbolic bar of 50,000 deaths linked to the coronavirus, the number of new patients affected by Covid-19 continues to decrease every day.
This improvement in health indicators convinced Emmanuel Macron to launch a gradual relaxation of the epidemic control system, which will come into force from this weekend, and which will extend until the end of January.
The president detailed this new strategy on Tuesday evening, during a solemn address of about half an hour from the Salle des Fêtes of the Élysée Palace.
LIVE - Follow the latest information on the epidemic situation
»FROM NOVEMBER 28 TO DECEMBER 15
● Shops can open from Saturday morning
“
Finally!
This was one of the most anticipated measures.
Angry since they were forced to lower the curtain in early November, the owners of so-called “
non-essential
” businesses will be able to reopen their doors on Saturday morning, without waiting for December 1, the date initially mentioned by the executive.
This particularly applies to hairdressing salons, bookstores, libraries, etc.
However, they will have to close at 9 p.m.
Read also: Reopening of shops: here is the new health protocol that will apply from November 28
● Reinforced health protocol in shops
To prevent the French from flocking to stores within a month of Christmas, businesses will have to comply with a new reinforced health protocol: the occupancy gauge will drop from one person for 4 m2 to one person for 8 m2 and opening hours will be extended.
● Resumption of worship this weekend
Remained open during the second confinement, places of worship will once again be able to organize services and ceremonies with the public from this weekend, "
within the strict limit of 30 people
".
Read also: The cults agree on a protocol for the resumption of ceremonies with the public
● The flexible travel certificate
The end of the “1 hour, 1 kilometer” rule.
From Saturday morning, the derogatory exit certificate, necessary for any trip, will be relaxed: the duration and the authorized perimeter will be extended to 20 kilometers and 3 hours.
Read also: Containment: download the exceptional travel certificate
●
Strictly speaking
"
confinement
"
maintained throughout the territory
Despite the easing of the measures,
stricto sensu
"
confinement
"
is maintained throughout the territory.
● Recourse to teleworking remains compulsory
During this first stage of deconfinement, the Head of State clarified that teleworking will continue to be the rule for companies whenever possible.
● Resumption of outside extracurricular activities
“
Outdoor extracurricular activities will again be authorized
” from this Saturday.
● "Long-term" monitoring of psychological effects
Anxious to "
face the long-term consequences of the virus
", Emmanuel Macron asks for a "
follow-up
" of Covid-19 patients, as well as a "
strategy
" to "
take into account the psychological consequences
" of the epidemic and confinements, especially for the elderly and disabled.
»FROM
DECEMBER
15
TO JANUARY 20
● End of confinement, replaced by a curfew from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m.
The return of the curfew.
From December 15, confinement will be lifted in the country, and replaced by night restrictions from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m., as was already the case at the end of October.
Read also: The curfew in France, a long history since the Middle Ages
● End of the day exit certificate
The famous derogatory exit certificate, compulsory for each trip, will no longer be compulsory during the day.
However, you will need to bring proof to travel in the evening, in accordance with the restrictions imposed by the curfew.
● Authorized interregional travel
Three days before the school holidays, which will begin on Friday, December 18, the French will be able to move from one region to another without having to bring proof.
● An exception to the curfew on Christmas and New Year's Eve
Although family reunions are strongly canceled, an exception to the curfew will be allowed on the night of December 24 to 25, Christmas Eve, and December 31, New Year's Eve.
On the other hand, gatherings on public roads will be prohibited.
● The culture sector resumes an almost normal activity
“
Culture is essential to our life as a cito
yen”.
This is why the whole of the cultural sector will be able to resume an almost normal activity from December 15.
On the other hand, museums, theaters and cinemas will have to respect the curfew hours.
Read also: Covid-19: the cultural blues
● Almost “impossible” to open ski resorts for the holidays
"
It seems to me impossible to envisage an opening of ski resorts for the end of year celebrations
", explained the Head of State.
The executive considers it more preferable to consider their reopening in January.
The ski resorts will be definitively fixed on their fate within a few days, after consultation.
● Resumption of extracurricular activities in the classroom
"
Extracurricular activities in the room for the reception of children during the holidays will again be authorized, with strict rules
", indicated the president.
»
FROM JANUARY 20
● Restaurants, cafes and sports halls authorized to open
The return of conviviality.
Unlike other businesses, restaurants, cafes and sports halls will not be able to welcome new customers until January 20, "
if the number of contamination remains below 5,000 cases per day
".
● Bars and nightclubs will remain closed
Their managers will have to take their troubles patiently.
Closed since the first lockdown, bars and nightclubs won't be able to reopen anytime soon.
No date is set at this stage.
● Return of the face-to-face in high schools
End of the video for high school students, who will be able to resume face-to-face lessons from the end of January or the beginning of February.
However, a strict sanitary protocol must apply to establishments.
● Universities will reopen in early February
Two weeks after high school, "
it is the universities that will be able to resume classes, with there too a physical presence of all the students,
" said the president.
He announced at the end of October the suspension of face-to-face courses in universities and grandes écoles.
● Still no big festive event in a closed place
“
Large gatherings
”, “
all festive events in theaters
”, and all places
“likely to bring together a large number of people from different regions
” remain “
prohibited
”, warned the president, citing “
parks of 'attractions
' and '
exhibition centers
'.
● Reduced curfew, shorter hours
Almost a precautionary principle.
A lightened curfew could be maintained beyond January 15: the hours will be less strict.
However, this will depend on the number of daily contaminations.
● "Do everything to avoid a third wave" and a "third confinement"
In order to "
do everything to avoid a third wave
" and "
a third confinement
", the Head of State called for "
redoubled vigilance
": "
protect our loved ones
", "
wear the mask, including at home
" , "
Let's be careful not to be too many,
" he said.
"CONTINUE
TO TEST, ISOLATION AND ALERT PENDING THE
VACCINE
● Vaccination of the most vulnerable from the end of December-beginning of January
The “
ray of hope
”.
"
Vaccination must be done in a clear and transparent manner, by sharing information at each stage
", insisted the president.
The French vaccination campaign will begin with the elderly.
"
We will probably start at the end of December, at the beginning of January,
subject to validation by the health authorities by vaccinating the vulnerable and therefore the oldest
," he said.
● Vaccination will not be compulsory in France
While the government has so far preferred to remain cautious on the subject, Emmanuel Macron finally decided the question on Tuesday.
Vaccination against Covid-19 will not be compulsory in France.
Read also: Covid-19: for or against a mandatory vaccine?
What politicians think
● Some 10 users for "TousAntiCovid"
Launched at the end of October, the tracking application has been downloaded by more than 10 million French people, while the previous version, “StopCovid” capped at less than three million activations.
The Head of State invited the French to use the application in places of gathering such as shops and places of worship.
»PROLONGED AND EXPANDED ECONOMIC SUPPORT MEASURES
● Existing extended aid schemes
All the existing public aid systems, such as the reinforced solidarity fund, exemption from social charges, State-guaranteed loans (PGE), partial unemployment as well as the measure to reduce rents, are maintained.
The unemployed at the end of their rights will continue to receive their compensation.
● New support for closed businesses
The
executive's
“
whatever the cost
”
strategy
is strengthening.
In addition to the already existing systems, establishments forced to remain closed will be paid, whatever their size, 20% of their 2019 turnover, if this option is more advantageous for them than the 10,000 to which they were already entitled.
● The "1 young 1 solution" plan strengthened
The “1 young person 1 solution” plan, launched this summer to find a solution to the 750,000 young people entering the labor market this year, will soon be reinforced.
The government will present the terms of the new aid in the coming days.
