French Interior Minister Christophe Castaner told French people to stay home on Monday (March 16), barring exceptions, to fight the spread of the coronavirus and promised the mobilization of 100,000 police and gendarmes for checks.
“The watchword is clear: stay at home! “, said Mr. Castaner at a press conference in a sometimes martial tone. All those who circulate must be “Able to justify their displacement”, he added, adding that a fine for offenders would soon be raised to 135 euros. Today it is 38 euros.
As Head of State Emmanuel Macron announced earlier, Castaner said traffic restrictions would begin at noon on Tuesday for two weeks, possibly renewable.
For each trip, in addition to certain professional cards and employer certificates, the French must present a “Document attesting to the reason on the honor” displacement, including downloadable from the website of the Ministry of the Interior. It can also be done on loose paper.
Travel is prohibited except in the following cases and only on condition that you have a certificate for:
- trips between home and the place of exercise of the professional activity, when they are essential for the exercise of activities which cannot be organized in the form of telework (on permanent proof) or professional trips which cannot be deferred;
- trips to make essential purchases in authorized establishments (list on government.fr and stopped on legifrance); travel for health reasons;
- displacement for imperative family reasons, for assistance to vulnerable persons or childcare;
- short trips, close to home, related to the individual physical activity of the people, excluding any collective sporting practice, and the needs of pets.
“It will be up to everyone to fill it out to specify the nature of their trip, their destination and their reasons”, said Mr. Castaner.
Exceptions to traffic restrictions “May be tolerated for travel between home and work. When these trips are essential for activities that cannot be interrupted or organized in the form of telework ”, detailed the minister.
Other trips are not restricted but not supported: those “Necessary for shopping or for basic necessities, for health reasons, for trips with a compelling family motive, for vulnerable people, to help a dependent relative or for separated parents to pick up or drop off the children “, he added.
The Minister also clarified that “Brief trips near the home” will also be tolerated. “We can always practice a physical activity or take out our dog but everyone should do so sparingly”, added the Minister again. In any case, any leisure activity should be done near the home and not involve meeting other people. Group sports (football, rugby, basketball …) are thus prohibited.
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Reinforced border controls
Two levels of control have been detailed by the Minister.
As regards the external borders of the European Union, nationals of a country of the European Union or of the Schengen area, as well as the British, will henceforth be admitted into the common area. People from third countries with a European residence permit will also be accepted, and exceptions are made for other categories, such as healthcare workers from a non-European country.
With regard to the internal borders of the EU, controls have already been put in place, with Germany for example. Cross-border workers can continue to come and go, if they have proof of address and employment.
“It is not for us to completely close the borders. It is a question of limiting exchanges to what is strictly necessary. It’s consistent with the containment measures we’re taking. “, insisted Christophe Castaner.
The movement of goods will remain possible, whether incoming or outgoing, with countries bordering or outside the EU.
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