Macron has announced a 15 day lockdown in France, only trips to shop, to doctors etc allowed. Long journeys to work banned
Keep calm, he says. No panic. Concentrate on the essentials. Ignore rumors and fake experts. We are at war, he says. A health war but a war that needs général mobilisation against the epidemic.
All reforms to be suspended, including the v controversial reform of the state pension system which has caused weeks of protests, strikes etc
Taxis, hôtels to be mobilised, at state expense, to help doctors and nurses. Military hospitals to used for civilian patients. We are at war, he repeats.
Eu has agreed to suspend all free movement for 30 days. Fr citizens will be allowed to go home.
Poorest will have special food stations etc. No Fr person will be left without income. Cheap loans for business. All water bills etc suspended. State funded temporary unemployment pay for all laid off during crisis. No firings. Standard of living will be maintained.
"I have a certainty, more we act together, the more we act with the devotion of our medical personnel, the sooner we will escape from this slowed down existence... We will win."
Phew. Macron does a Winston. Or FDR. Six mentions of "we are at war." Lock down for 15 days only. But will probably be longer.
Health Minister, Olivier Veran, now announcing that each Fr person must have contact with no more than 5 people a day. Govt decided not to use word confinement or lockdown, he said. But that's what it is.
Correction. EU has closed external, not internal borders. So no one without good reason allowed to enter schengen from outside...
Number of deaths in France now 148, 27 up on yesterday at same time. But 400 gravely ill in hospital.
Another thing I missed... Long distance journeys in Fr only allowed in emergencies after midday tomorrow. In effect, everyone has to choose their hiding place by then. Big jams leaving Paris tonight.
Another important detail. French State is creating a solidarity fund to underwrite up to €300bn, that's billion, in cheap loans to small and big firms in difficulty.
Events, dear boy events. Macron promised to roll back French State to make Fr more enterprising etc. He has just announced a programme of vast state support and action which would have astonished Franklin Roosevelt and startled Josef Stalin.
Despite fake stories circulating during day, yes you Andrew Neil, the lockdown from midday tomorrow will NOT be enforced by the military. Army will be used only to help hospitals and move v sick people and urgent supplies.
