Activity resumed almost normally on Monday in New Caledonia with the implementation of adapted confinement. The daily resumed its rights, despite the rain, but with respect for barrier gestures.
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Posted on April 20, 2020, at 8:01 p.m., updated on April 21, 2020 at 11:53 am
Liberated, freed … This day on Monday was like a little known air for the Caledonians who were able to move freely again, without derogatory certificate, and for the majority to resume work.
Side reactions, the Caledonians hesitated between feeling of freedom and apprehension. Reactions collected by Michel Bouilliez and Claude Lindor
The resumption of economic activity
As a sign that life was resuming, traffic jams returned this morning at the entrance to Noumea, far from the fluid traffic of the past few weeks. Traffic noise is also now perceptible from home, after the calm.
Many professions that were unable to work during strict confinement have found their premises, and their clients. This is the case for restaurants and snacks, hairdressers and beauticians. Gently or whirlwind occasions, but where everyone adapts with the barrier gestures and other arrangements to be put in place.
Olivier Jonemann and Nicolas Fasquel’s report to Ducos:
In the North too, we went back to work, despite the torrential rain and the circulation sometimes impossible. But it was mainly the daycare problems that occupied people’s minds.
The report by Gilbert Assawa and Camille Mosnier:
Transportation
On the transport side, the Tanéo network resumed its rotations normally this Monday.
On the other hand, users of Raï will still have to wait. With the necessary sanitary adaptations on the buses, the fleet should not resume on the road until next week.
Uncertainty also for the resumption of local air traffic. If Aircal makes every effort to be able to take off from Wednesday, other contingencies come at the end of the day, notably the position of the elected officials and customaries of the Islands.
Schools
The new school year, you know, is going to be staggered. It starts Wednesday for the southern province, in half-classes, and will last two weeks.
Back from Wednesday also on the Loyalty Islands, but the North province has decided to postpone the return to class until May 4.
At the Louise Michel college in Païta, we started to prepare the establishment to welcome the pupils again.
Caroline Antic-Martin and Gaël Detcheverry’s report:
In Noumea, the private school James Cook resumed classes this morning, with the accommodation measures.
And a breath of fresh air!
Meanwhile on the bays of Noumea, the crazy outdoor activity rushed outside, despite the weather, to re-taste the pleasure of walking on the beach and sliding on the waves.
