France New Lockdown For 1 Month As Covid Rages
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France New Lockdown For 1 Month As Covid Rages

Paris metro empty during lockdown France
Public transport was already set to be slashed in the capital due to the curfew. A new lockdown will no doubt have an impact on the extent of cuts to train and bus services.

UPDATE: The new lockdown in France is underway. It began at midnight Thursday.

Lockdown 2 is now a certainty. It was announced in a national address by President Emmanuel Macron at 8 p.m. on Wednesday.

The likelihood of a new month-long lockdown in France is beyond question BFM TV reports. What remains to be seen is the form the lockdown takes.

The most likely scenario says the broadcaster, is a lockdown “à la irlandaise“. That is with the closure of all non-essential businesses. The “reconfinement“, as it’s known in France, is likely to be “more flexible” than the first lockdown the station forecasts.

UPDATE: Now we know, this is roughly the form the lockdown will take:

France endured three months of strict restrictions on movement plus widespread business shutdowns during spring. Stay-at-home orders lasted from March 17 until May 11, while restaurants and bars were closed until early June.

Since last Friday, two thirds of France’s 67 million population have been living with a 9 p.m.–6 a.m. curfew. But that doesn’t go far enough for the country’s top health officials and scientific advisors.

France One Of Europe’s Covid Epicentres

The move comes amid Covid’s dramatic European resurgence, as several countries such as Italy experience their worst infection rates since April.

France’s second wave national lockdown follows on the heels of those in countries including Ireland and the Czech Republic. France hit all-time records over the weekend, with over 52,000 new Covid cases reported in 24 hours.

Indeed, as Covid returns in force on the continent, France is among the top six worst-hit countries in Europe according to the latest epidemiological data. It along with Luxembourg and Belgium, the Netherlands and Slovenia are European epicentres for the virus. Belgium too is seeing record-high infections, and may soon announce a full lockdown.

Almost one in five people currently tested in France are Covid-positive. That as the total number of cases nears 1.2 million according to statistics from the national health agency Santé Publique.

Here’s What The Lockdown May Look Like:
masked statue in Bordeaux during lockdown in France
Are centuries-old French statues wearing masks there to remind us of the ephemeral nature of a seemingly endless health crisis? Which now is coming back in vigour in Europe and sending cities, even nations, back into lockdowns again.

Going by the French media reports the lockdown may look something like this:

  • It will start midnight Thursday.
  • There’ll be leeway for those returning from holidays to do so before the lockdown sets in.
  • Individual movement outside the home will be limited, though less severely than in “lockdown 1”.
  • Non-essential businesses from restaurants to hairdressers will probably close. Though restaurants may be able to operate for take outs, as is the case in Ireland.
  • Public services will not shut.
  • Primary schools will stay open, but high schools will close. The jury is out on colleges and universities. That is, it still remains unclear what direction the government will take.
  • Likewise it’s not sure whether places of worship will close.
  • Working from home will be encouraged

Virus Around In France Until At Least Summer 2021

As the pandemic bolts out of control, France seems set to take the tough approach. The Elysées is not commenting further on the reports ahead of Macron’s televised address.

The move comes within days of President Macron declaring: “We must live with the virus”. And that possibly until summer 2021.

Until now, the government has tried to stave off a new strict lockdown. But the reality of the situation, with Covid spiraling out of control, is determining otherwise.

Though for French infectious disease specialist, Jean–Michel Molina, it’s just a Covid continuation rather than a return. “You can’t really talk of a second wave, it’s the same wave,” he says. “The end of the lockdown was too fast, social distancing was relaxed, wearing masks came too late.”

Despite huge fears of the economic fallout ahead, with thousands of small businesses already threatened by the crisis, many health experts feel there’s no choice.

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