On Wednesday October 14, the Head of State spoke for 40 minutes live on television. A curfew is decreed in all metropolises on maximum alert. In Occitania, Montpellier and Toulouse are concerned.
Emmanuel Macron announced Wednesday, October 14, in the evening, during an interview during the television news the establishment of a curfew between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. in nine cities, dont Montpellier and Toulouse in Occitanie, from this Saturday, October 17 and for at least four weeks, in order to counter the epidemic “second wave” linked to the new coronavirus.
“Countering the second wave”
For 45 minutes on TF1 and France 2, the Head of State justified these measures by the need to counter the epidemic which has killed more than 33,000 people in the country. “We are in a situation which is worrying and which justifies that we are neither inactive nor in panic“, he said.” What is called the curfew is a measure which is relevant. “
Who is concerned ?
In addition to Ile-de-France, the metropolises concerned are Montpellier, Toulouse, Grenoble, Small, Lyon, Aix-Marseille, Montpellier, Rouen, Saint Etienne. If for the time being, the curfew is decreed for four weeks, the president deemed it “useful” to impose this curfew until December 1, or six weeks, if the green light gives its approval.
In total, 20 million French people are affected.
“The government is in a position to decide it for four weeks. We will go to Parliament to be able to try to extend it until December 1,” he explained. “If for six weeks we keep this curfew (…) at that time we think we can gradually reopen. I am very careful because experience teaches us that we do not control everything. “
Castex and his ministers unveil the measurements at 2 p.m.
Prime Minister Jean Castex will be held on Thursday at 2 p.m., a press conference during which he will discuss “the application of measures to combat Covid-19” with four of his ministers.
His government decided on Wednesday to restore the state of health emergency from Saturday, October 17, to give itself more means to stem the spread of the coronavirus.
The stated presidential target is to farea reduce the number of contaminations to between 3,000 and 5,000 per day instead of the 20,000 currently thanks to the “test-alert-protect” triptych. In order to better trace the virus, tests will be improved and a new application, called “All anti-Covid”, will be presented on October 22. It will replace the “Stop Covid” application, which has not given the expected results.
Restaurants close at 9 p.m.
New blow for restaurateurs. As of this Saturday, October 17 and at least for four weeks, they will have to close at 9 p.m. because of the curfew in place.
“It is sure that there will be economic consequences. We will have restaurants which decide to close,” conceded the head of state. Indicating that it was necessary to accompany these professionals to help them and prevent them from going out of business.
“The partial unemployment scheme will remain in force during this period”. Regarding the most affected sectors, such as tourism, catering, or even culture, Emmanuel Macron promised to “put in place additional devices”, without revealing their content.
No restriction in transport
There will be no restriction in transport for example to allow workers to return home. In Montpellier, the mayor of the city and the metropolis confirms that public transport will not be limited.
Nor between regions
Travel between regions will not be restricted. Including during the All Saints holidays, which begin this Friday evening. “We are not preventing people from moving from one region to another or going on vacation, but we will ask them to respect the rules of citizenship in the coming weeks,” said Emmanuel Macron.
However, the President of the Republic calls for respecting barrier gestures: wearing a mask even in private, washing your hands well …
Return of the travel certificate
While it will not be prohibited to drive between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m., on the other hand, in the event of a control, a restriction is imposed. Thus, it will be necessary to prove the necessity of your trip.
To do this, the derogatory travel certificate, this little paper which appeared at the time of confinement on March 17, is making a big comeback this Saturday, October 17, after being abandoned on May 11 by the majority of the French.
People forced to go to work in the evening, or those who can prove pressing needs or emergencies (family, health-related …), will be able to go out but will have to justify this displacement. “Obviously, for all those who come home from work after 9 p.m. or those who work at night or early in the morning, there will be an authorization, as well as for those who have health emergencies,” said Emmanuel Macron.
In the event of non-compliance with the curfew, offenders will be punished with a fine of 135 euros, an amount which will be increased to 1,500 € in the event of a repeat offense.
No more than 6 people in the private sphere
The curfew aims in particular to limit private moments of conviviality, considered as “vectors of acceleration” of the virus. The president also asked the French not to meet more than six and encouraged telecommuting, at a rate of “two or three days a week” if possible.
This measure should also apply in the street.
Partial unemployment and aid
To face the economic consequences of this curfew, the president announced a reactivation of the systems covering 100% of short-time working and loans guaranteed by the State for different sectors: hotels, cafes, restaurants, tourism, events, culture, sport.
“From Friday, in each of these metropolises, we will relaunch local consultation with all the trades that are concerned and we will improve the economic response with all these professionals,” said Emmanuel Macron. “I do not want our independents, our very small businesses, our SMEs to close and go bankrupt because of this curfew.”
“The virus hits more modest circles. On the economic and social level, this crisis is also unequal,” admitted the Head of State. Recipients of RSA and housing assistance will be able to benefit from “exceptional aid of 150 €, plus 100 euros per child. This will allow to go between 100 and 450 €, which is more than a revaluation”, a the president continued.
Behind closed doors in sport
After the interview with Emmanuel Macron, the executive announced that professional sporting events could take place at the times already announced, including in the evening, in the nine areas affected by this curfew.
On the other hand, there is no longer any question of a maximum audience of 1,000 spectators. All meetings must be held in camera. Thus, the Ligue 1 or Ligue 2 matches scheduled for the evening will take place over the next few weeks. With the gates closed.
The same for the moment for the Top 14 or any time slot moves can only be done in agreement with the broadcasters.
But for many sports such as basketball and volleyball, the problem is different. Professional clubs do not have TV rights and cannot afford the luxury of playing behind closed doors. The clubs are therefore banking on the possibility of being able to bring forward the schedules of sporting events in order to be able to accommodate a limited number of spectators.
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