During a press conference, Prime Minister Jean Castex outlined the specifics of the health restrictions this Thursday.
He notably announced that the French would only be able to leave their homes for certain reasons and with a certificate, as was the case in March.
Trips for exercise or to walk a pet will be allowed for “a maximum of one hour” and within “a one-kilometer radius from home,” he specifically stated. Ministers Jean-Michel Blanquer, Elisabeth Borne, Bruno Le Maire, Olivier Vรฉran, and Roselyne Bachelot each spoke in turn.
Daycares, schools, middle schools, and high schools will remain open with strengthened health protocols. However, university courses and higher education institutions will need to conduct classes remotely. Mask-wearing will be extended to children from the age of 6, meaning elementary school students.
All “non-essential” businesses and public venues will have to close following the same framework as in the spring, including bars and restaurants. Cultural venues, such as cinemas and museums, are closed again.
Professional sports competitions can continue at least until December 1st, specified the Minister of Sports, Roxana Maracineanu.
It is still possible to attend medical appointments.
Partial unemployment will be available for employees and employers unable to work.
Visits to Ehpad (nursing homes) and retirement homes will not be prohibited.
These rules will be applied at least until December 1st, with a review in fifteen days.
Here is the list of businesses that can remain open:
Public venues (types of businesses) will be closed during the lockdown, except for those listed below, communicated by the Ministry of Economy.
– Maintenance, repair, and technical inspections of automobiles, vehicles, equipment, and agricultural machinery
– Automotive equipment trading
– Motorcycle and bicycle sales and repairs
– Supplies necessary for agricultural operations
– Retail of frozen products
– General food stores
– Convenience stores
– Supermarkets
– Multi-business stores
– Hypermarkets
– Retail of fruits and vegetables in specialized stores
– Retail of meats and meat products in specialized stores
– Retail of fish, shellfish, and mollusks in specialized stores
– Retail of bread, pastry, and confectionery in specialized stores
– Retail of beverages in specialized stores
– Other specialized food retail stores
– Food distributions provided by charitable organizations
– Retail of fuels and combustibles in specialized stores
– Retail of information and communication equipment in specialized stores
– Retail of computers, peripheral units, and software in specialized stores
– Retail of telecommunication equipment in specialized stores
– Retail of construction materials, hardware, paints, and glass in specialized stores
– Retail of textiles in specialized stores
– Retail of newspapers and stationery in specialized stores
– Retail of pharmaceuticals in specialized stores
– Retail of medical and orthopedic goods in specialized stores
– Optical retail stores
– Retail of food and supplies for pets
– Retail food sales on stalls with provisions when installed in a market, per article 7 section III
– Retail of tobacco products, electronic cigarettes, vaping devices, and materials in specialized stores
– Vending machine sales and other non-store retail, stalls, or unspecified markets
– Hotels and similar accommodations, excluding holiday villages, family homes, and collective hostels
– Automobile rental and leasing
– Rental and leasing of other machinery, equipment, and goods
– Rental and leasing of agricultural machinery and equipment
– Rental and leasing of construction machinery and equipment
– Employment agency activities
– Temporary employment agency activities
– Repair of computers and personal and household goods
– Repair of computers and communication equipment
– Repair of computers and peripheral equipment
– Repair of communication equipment
– Laundry and dry cleaning services
– Wholesale laundry and dry cleaning
– Retail laundry and dry cleaning
– Funeral services
– Financial and insurance activities
– Wholesale trade providing goods and services necessary for the activities mentioned in this list.
