While France has passed the second level of coronavirus alert this weekend, health authorities are producing a series of recommendations. They are expected to have an impact on daily life in schools, workplaces and retirement homes.
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Schools closed in the homes of Oise and Haute-Savoie
Schools, colleges and high schools are closed from Monday morning in the centers of the virus, nine municipalities in the Oise and a small town in Haute-Savoie, La Balme-de-Sillingy. In all, 28,000 students have access to courses via the internet. In other schools in France, students are invited to attend classes, including those returning from Italy. There are no more measures of fourteen except for pupils returning precisely from the Hubei region, in China.
School trips abroad are no longer allowed until further notice and students currently traveling outside the country will have to return. No contraindication, however, for school trips to France ... unless a stopover is planned in the Oise or Haute-Savoie.
No new restriction for employees
Now that the virus is circulating, certain precautions become unnecessary. Workplace recommendations have been relaxed. Employees who were in their fortnight, after a trip to Italy or Korea, can return to work normally. It's about finding the right balance to limit the spread of the virus without blocking the country's activity.
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Certain basic hygiene rules must be observed. The kiss to say hello and handshakes are now officially advised against by the Minister of Health, Olivier Véran. In fact, the virus does not float in the air but is mainly transmitted by the hands.
Drastic measures for retirement homes
Faced with the vulnerability of the elderly, the directors of retirement homes are preparing for extreme situations. An infected resident will inevitably be confined in a room in which only personnel in full protective clothing can enter. If necessary, infected people will be fed intravenously.
"The imperative of an Ehpad today is to organize to face the next four to five weeks serenely with a food supply", explains Florence Arnaiz-Maumé, general manager of the Ehpad Synerpa union. "We are ready, if the situation so requires, to put in place a total closure of the establishments." This would occur in the event of passage to the third level of alert. Florence Arnaiz-Maumé advises to avoid visits to grandparents with children and to favor telephone or video calls.
SNCF awaits an increase in alert level
No restriction in the transport sector is envisaged for the moment, too paralyzing compared to the risk according to the authorities. However, the latter recommend washing your hands regularly after a bus or metro trip. SNCF is preparing for a move to level 3: the number of trains would then be reduced, by decision of the government, in certain geographic areas.