The lockdown over the last three weekends in coastal communities has been helpful but not sufficient to break the chain of infections which remain above the alert threshold (400/100,000).
In other words, it’s getting better but not yet good. Therefore, belts and braces for the next four weeks (including the Easter weekend) in the hope that the mixed approach of more vaccinations and fewer infections will show light at the end of the tunnel. Christian Estrosi thus reacted to the Government’s announcement:
Thanks to the efforts of the people of Nice and the Azuréens, whom I want to thank, the weekend lockdown has proven its effectiveness, the incidence rate has decreased and continues to decrease. I will ask the Prime Minister, Jean Castex, to lift the four-week lockdown constraint if the incidence rate drops below 400.”
In the meantime, patience, patience, patience!
The Alpes-Maritimes, as well as the departments of Eure and Seine-Maritime and the two regions of Ile-de-France and Hauts-de-France, will be locked down starting Friday, March 19 at midnight, and it is planned to last 4 weeks.
What impact will this measure have?
Essential businesses will remain open. Preschools, elementary schools, and middle schools will operate normally; high schools, which are already more than two-thirds at half capacity, will fully switch to this mode of operation.
Outdoor activities are allowed but with a daytime travel certificate and within a 10 km radius around the home. This time, there is no time limit for this outing. Strict instructions will be given to prefects to prohibit access to certain public spaces to avoid unauthorized gatherings. Physical education during school hours can resume normally, and extracurricular outdoor sports activities for minors will continue.
The rules for places of worship will remain unchanged. Travel between regions for the affected areas is prohibited, except for imperative or professional reasons. The curfew will shift from 6 pm to 7 pm starting this Saturday to account for the switch to daylight saving time. This is scheduled for the night of Saturday, March 27 to Sunday, March 28.
For the telework chapter, the objective is at least 4 days out of 5.
