French PM Edouard Philippe is about to announce final details of the partial unlocking of France from next Monday.
No surprises, we are told. I'll try to keep it short, even if he doesn't.
No surprises, we are told. I'll try to keep it short, even if he doesn't.
Progressive exit from "confinement" will go ahead as promised, Philippe announces. Latest figures on the virus are good enough to allow stage by stage end to lockdown to proceed.
Good news and bad news, he says. Most French departements will be "green" and eligible for higher degree of unlocking. Others, including Paris area will be red, because virus still active. Special, tougher measures will be imposed in Paris area because of its dense population.
Over to health minister, Olivier Veran, for more detail. France now ready for massive testing in every department, he says. But hospitals remain under pressure in Paris area, north east and Burgundy.
As a result 4 regions wil be in "red" from 11 May - those three, plus the north/Pas de Calais/Picardy region where virus remains relatively active. This can change. So final map shows a red stripe from Dunkirk to Swiss border, taking in Paris area and Alsace-Lorraine. Rest green
(As an explainer difference between red and green not enormous. All can work, except bars/restaurants etc in all areas. all can travel up to 100ks. In red areas, middle schools (colleges) and parks will remain closed. Plus special measures for Paris area, not yet specified.)
Veran says 100m masks will be available from Monday (not before time, he doesn't add). He begs old and fragile to stay at home as much as poss. Wear masks outside. Allow grandchildren to visit but not hug or kiss.
Veran announces Eur 1,500 tax free bonus for all care home staff in active virus areas; Euros 1,000 in rest. Other bonuses to be announced soon, he says.
Now education minister Jean-Michel Blanquer. He says most primary schools will reopen progressively/partially from Monday but priority will be given to 1m children of key workers and children who risk failing educationally. Tele school continues for rest. Some will have mixture.
Transport minister Elisabeth Borne says public transport will partially return to normal from Monday, including 75% or moreof capacity on Paris Metro. Efforts will be made to stop crowding at rail and metro stations. Road traffic to be kept down if poss.
Trains will be at 20/30% normal from Monday and 40% by end of May. Some seats closed to keep passengers apart. trains, metros and buses disinfected at least once a day.
Interior minister Christophe Castaner says limits on leaving home will be lifted from Monday in all France, except Mayotte in Indian Ocean where virus is still very active. However, everyone limited to max 100kms as birds fly non-urgent travel, save within their own departement.
Frontiers will remain closed for all except urgent travel. Quarantine for those entering France will NOT apply at this stage to people coming from EU countries and UK.
Now Bruno Le Maire, finance minister. The economy must be restarted, he says. All business, except restaurants, bars, cinemas etc will reopen, but extra restrictions will apply in Paris area. State will continue to help business, by extending aid/abolishing taxes to end of May.
Main extra restriction in greater Paris area will be on shopping centres of more than 40,000 sq metres, which will open elsewhere but not in the Ile de France.
Employment minister Muriel Penicaud urges those who can work from home to continue to do so to reduce pressure on public transport etc
PM again now. We're nor returning to normal, he says, but the beginning of a new phase which requires discipline and responsibility. No time to "relax our vigilance". Changes will be made as necessary.
In 3 weeks we will know whether we have succeeded in reclaiming some of our liberty without reigniting the epidemic. We can then move to a next, even freer phase, Philippe says.
Now over to 2 journalists, armed with questions from colleagues. Difference between red and green?Not great but it may become wider after 2 June, because remaining red departements won't get the extra freedoms, PM says.
Two points I missed. Printed attestations will be needed for travel beyond 100kms. There will be Euros 135 fines for people who don't respect new rules for public transport.
If virus explodes again? Philippe says it would be catastrophic to reimpose the lockdown but governmemt would face up to its responsibilities if necessary.
To use public transport in Paris area in rush hours you will need certificate from employer. Exceptions to 100kms limit must be serious ones; not going to a second home.
Questions now on whether it will be safe for children to go to school? It won't be compulsory, PM says. But as time goes by, he hopes people will realise "it's going well". Not a question of forcing people, but persuading them.
Masks. They will be distributed by the state to teachers and those who are vulnerable, medically or economically. Others can buy them in pharmacies, supermarkets etc Not the govt's plan to impose masks for all in public but recommend for some situations and enforce for others .
Contact tracing questions now. Veran says minimum info will be collected by state to trace contacts of people who test posiitive for C19, no question of creating intrusive national data base. Info will be destroyed once epidemic is over.
Philippe risking controversy. In reply to a question. he doesn't rule out extending 35hr week to help France back on its feet post-epidemic. But says he's not thinking about that now, only organising a successful reduction of lockdown in next 3 weeks.
He is asked about speculation of a rift with Macron. i'm going to disappoint you, he says. Relations between himself and the President have for 3yrs been of "unprecedented closeness" and remain so, he says.
And Philippe continues (getting testy) "I have to tell you that, in the present circumstances, I think the French people don't give a bugger (my loose translation of "se contrefichent") about such questions.
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