LATEST
1/ French PM Edouard Philippe announces plans on how France lockdown to be lifted after May 11:
“We are going to have to live with this virus... Until there is a vaccine or treatment, it will keep circulating among us.”
Says "we can hope" for a vaccine in 12-24 mths
1/ French PM Edouard Philippe announces plans on how France lockdown to be lifted after May 11:
“We are going to have to live with this virus... Until there is a vaccine or treatment, it will keep circulating among us.”
Says "we can hope" for a vaccine in 12-24 mths
2/ E. Philippe: "we must proceed with prudence. Progressively and safely"
Geographical aspects: says some French regions much worse hit than others. This must be taken into account in easing restrictions. Mayors and Prefects will be able to adap national strategy to their area
Geographical aspects: says some French regions much worse hit than others. This must be taken into account in easing restrictions. Mayors and Prefects will be able to adap national strategy to their area
3/ French PM E.Philippe says "Protect - test - isolate" will be the strategy for easing lockdown.
"barrier measures and social distancing will become even more important" (eg. hand washing, keeping distance in public, wearing masks "in certain situations")
#coronavirusfrance
"barrier measures and social distancing will become even more important" (eg. hand washing, keeping distance in public, wearing masks "in certain situations")
#coronavirusfrance
4/ French PM E.Philippe:
- acknowledges French people's anger that advice on masks has been contradictory & availability has been poor
- says all countries worldwide have faced shortage of masks
- defends govt decision to reserve French mask stocks for healthcare staff til now
- acknowledges French people's anger that advice on masks has been contradictory & availability has been poor
- says all countries worldwide have faced shortage of masks
- defends govt decision to reserve French mask stocks for healthcare staff til now
5/
Says govt will give half the money for local authorities' purchase of masks
"Progressively" French people will be able to buy masks themselves in shops, but govt asks local auths and businesses to help supply them up til then
Teachers and pupils will be given masks
Says govt will give half the money for local authorities' purchase of masks
"Progressively" French people will be able to buy masks themselves in shops, but govt asks local auths and businesses to help supply them up til then
Teachers and pupils will be given masks
6/ individuals "are invited" to make their own masks at home
French PM E.Philippe on testing: France has goal of at least 700,000 test per week by May 11th
Says modelling shows 1000-3000 new infections/day after May11
Research labs + vet labs will be involved in testing
French PM E.Philippe on testing: France has goal of at least 700,000 test per week by May 11th
Says modelling shows 1000-3000 new infections/day after May11
Research labs + vet labs will be involved in testing
7/ French PM says aim is that everyone who has come into contact with a person who's tested positive for #covid19 to be tested
French social security will pay for 100% of the cost of the tests.
Anyone testing positive will be asked to isolate/quarantine themselves
French social security will pay for 100% of the cost of the tests.
Anyone testing positive will be asked to isolate/quarantine themselves
8/ hotels will be requisitioned for people who test positive for #covid_19 to do 14 days of quarantine (if they don't want to quarantine at home)
Anyone who quarantines at home, will have to keep all other members of their family in quarantine for 14 days too
Anyone who quarantines at home, will have to keep all other members of their family in quarantine for 14 days too
9/ on tracing contacts + concerns the StopCovid app may breach civil liberties:-
"we should ask these questions and debate them, even vote on them"
-but says this will only happen once the app being developed.
Some heckling in the National Assembly chamber at this
"we should ask these questions and debate them, even vote on them"
-but says this will only happen once the app being developed.
Some heckling in the National Assembly chamber at this
10/
Asks French people to remain "disciplined" between now and 11th May.
"1st phase" will last til June 2nd.
Announcement on reopening cafes and restaurant due end May
Criteria for identifying which places relax lockdown by how much will be announced May 7th
Asks French people to remain "disciplined" between now and 11th May.
"1st phase" will last til June 2nd.
Announcement on reopening cafes and restaurant due end May
Criteria for identifying which places relax lockdown by how much will be announced May 7th
11/ French PM now has details on specific aspects:
- schools:-
progressive reopening of youngest age group schools from May 11th
From May 18th: reopening collèges (lower secondary)
From end of May, lycées (oldest age groups)
- schools:-
progressive reopening of youngest age group schools from May 11th
From May 18th: reopening collèges (lower secondary)
From end of May, lycées (oldest age groups)
12/
New school rules:
- no more than 15 pupils per class
- hydro-alcoholic gel to be given out free
Masks:
- all teachers/staff will get them for free
- banned for children in "maternelle"
-"not recommended" in elementary schools but will be available if a child shows symptoms
New school rules:
- no more than 15 pupils per class
- hydro-alcoholic gel to be given out free
Masks:
- all teachers/staff will get them for free
- banned for children in "maternelle"
-"not recommended" in elementary schools but will be available if a child shows symptoms
13/ Crèches / kindergartens will be able to start reopening with max 10 children in each group (doesn't specify date but definitely after May 11th)
Children under the age of 3 will not have to wear masks
Children under the age of 3 will not have to wear masks
14/ French PM on businesses after May 11th:
Everyone who can continue to work from home, should do so
Businesses should rearrange work times to have as few people together at the same time as possible
Everyone who can continue to work from home, should do so
Businesses should rearrange work times to have as few people together at the same time as possible
15/ French PM on shops /commerces
- all will be able to reopen after May 11 if they limit number of people inside, permit social distancing
- shopkeepers will be able to ban people not wearing masks
- markets will "generally" be allowed- local auths will decide
- all will be able to reopen after May 11 if they limit number of people inside, permit social distancing
- shopkeepers will be able to ban people not wearing masks
- markets will "generally" be allowed- local auths will decide
16/ transport:
- public transport: 70% of Paris RATP services to run from May 11
- school buses can run again, at 1/2 capacity
- govt wants to limit travel between regions to limit circulation of virus. Only "essential" travel to be allowed (for essential work/familiy reasons)
- public transport: 70% of Paris RATP services to run from May 11
- school buses can run again, at 1/2 capacity
- govt wants to limit travel between regions to limit circulation of virus. Only "essential" travel to be allowed (for essential work/familiy reasons)
17/
From May 11 it'll be possible to go outside without an authorisation paper with a limit of 100km from your home
Parks + gardens to stay shut where the virus is still circulating widely
Sport in enclosed spaces, contact sports, group sports to remain banned
From May 11 it'll be possible to go outside without an authorisation paper with a limit of 100km from your home
Parks + gardens to stay shut where the virus is still circulating widely
Sport in enclosed spaces, contact sports, group sports to remain banned
18/
Big sporting, cultural events over 5000 people will have to follow strict rules
Libraries, small museums may open after May 11th
Big museums, theatres, concert halls, cinemas to stay shut
Big sporting, cultural events over 5000 people will have to follow strict rules
Libraries, small museums may open after May 11th
Big museums, theatres, concert halls, cinemas to stay shut
19/
The 2019-2020 sporting season will not restart. Including (PM says "particularly") football
Funerals permitted with up to 20 people.
Cemeteries to reopen from May 11th.
Town halls should "continue to propose postponement" of weddings.
The 2019-2020 sporting season will not restart. Including (PM says "particularly") football
Funerals permitted with up to 20 people.
Cemeteries to reopen from May 11th.
Town halls should "continue to propose postponement" of weddings.
20/ French PM E. Philippe gives a new deadline for reviewing the lockdown:-
"at the end of May we will evaluate the next phase of easing lockdown... particularly concerning cafes, restaurants and holidays. It is too early to do so right now"
"at the end of May we will evaluate the next phase of easing lockdown... particularly concerning cafes, restaurants and holidays. It is too early to do so right now"
21/
E. Philippe concludes:
"France is facing a moment where all who love and serve her must be at their best.
We must protect the French people without immobilising France to the point of its collapse. We must toe a delicate line" [cont...]
E. Philippe concludes:
"France is facing a moment where all who love and serve her must be at their best.
We must protect the French people without immobilising France to the point of its collapse. We must toe a delicate line" [cont...]
22/ E.Philippe concludion cont'd...
"if we are too relaxed, the epidemic will take off again. If we are too cautious, the entire country will sink"
"if we are too relaxed, the epidemic will take off again. If we are too cautious, the entire country will sink"
23/ one final thing to say... this could all be delayed if the infections take off again, hospitalisations go up again.
French PM underlined that all this lockdown-easing will only happen as laid out above IF indicators are positive in time for May 11th
French PM underlined that all this lockdown-easing will only happen as laid out above IF indicators are positive in time for May 11th
A clarification of tweet #18 re: sport/culture events Philippe said:
"all events which bring together more than 5000 participants, which have to be declared to the prefecture (local auths) +organised far in advance, will be unable to take place before Sep"
Was typing fast, apols
"all events which bring together more than 5000 participants, which have to be declared to the prefecture (local auths) +organised far in advance, will be unable to take place before Sep"
Was typing fast, apols
