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The Paris metropolitan area is one of 16 French regions that went into a partial blockade on Saturday, which will last at least a month. The new restrictions seek to limit travel outside the home, except for work or essential activities. FRANCE 24 takes a look at the new blocking rules.
The new blockade is trying to stop the spread of Covid-19, while limiting economic costs, making the restrictions very different from France’s two blockades last year.
Unlike previous blockades, only 16 regions – including the Paris metropolitan area – have been partially blocked.
In these 16 departments, massive new measures to combat the epidemic will take place starting at midnight on Friday night and for 4 weeks.
We are adopting a third mode, a mode that should allow braking without locking. pic.twitter.com/AkzukWf5O9– Jean Castex (@JeanCASTEX) March 18, 2021
The government announced on Saturday that it would not be necessary for residents of the 16 affected regions to complete a CERTIFICATION (as was the case with previous blockades) if they go out within a radius of 10 kilometers from their homes. They will simply be asked to provide proof of address.
For any trip exceeding 10 kilometers, an official CERTIFICATION the form will still be required. Forms issued by the Ministry of the Interior are available in English here.
“The certificate and justification of the reason for the trip will continue to be required for travel over 10 kilometers (either within the department or for interregional travel),” the government said in a statement.
A night extinguishing starts at 19:00 (previously it was 18:00) and ends at 6:00. A declaration form is also currently mandatory for any journey during the competition.
Interregional travel is prohibited on Saturdays, except for “imperative or professional reasons,” according to the interior ministry’s website.
Failure to follow the rules will result in a €135 good.
Schools remain open, encouraged at work
For at least a month, primary schools and colleagues (aged 11 to 15) will remain open normally, but high schools (aged 16 to 18) will return to a hybrid program half at home, half at school.
On the other hand, outdoor sports and extracurricular programs will function normally and the parks will remain open.
>> Read more about France’s doctrinal position on open schools
Adults are advised to work from home as much as possible.
French Prime Minister Jean Castex said on Thursday that guidelines for companies and administrations to set work-from-home measures for “at least four days” a week “are still far” from being followed.
A study by the Pasteur Institute published earlier this month showed that contamination at work accounted for 15% of the cases identified by Covid-19.
What is an “essential” purchase?
Under the new restrictions, about 90,000 companies will not be able to open, including about 25,000 companies already closed in malls across the country, according to a government statement.
Stores selling non-essential goods and services, including department stores, will be closed.
The list of essential stores includes pharmacies, supermarkets, bookstores, hair salons, shoe repairs, florists, chocolate shops, car dealerships and music stores.