The containment decided by the government against the coronavirus leads to store closings and cancellations of events. Until further notice, restaurants, cafes, cinemas, museums and other non-essential places are closed, but supermarkets and pharmacies in particular remain open. Certain actions remain authorized, others are prohibited: an overview of what is possible at present in France during stage 3 of the epidemic.
Food: Take-out restaurants and supermarkets
The restaurants have been closed since midnight on Saturday, as have the bars, brasseries, cafes and nightclubs, "until further notice". Take-out and delivery activities are currently maintained in restaurants and drinking establishments, with the recommendation to avoid "any contact". Hotels can continue to welcome their customers, but not in their restaurants and bars. They can continue to provide breakfasts or any other meal, but only in the room.
Supermarkets and grocery stores remain open. Their supply of food and basic necessities will be "guaranteed in the days and weeks to come", assured the Minister of Economy Bruno Le Maire. The rules of night work in particular will be relaxed. The minister reaffirmed that there will be "no rationing" while calling on the French not to "buy more than necessary". Cultural spaces and cafeterias of mass retailers will be closed.
Health: open pharmacies, non-essential care postponed
Pharmacies and drugstores remain open, as do hospitals. All national hospital capacities and the maximum number of doctors and caregivers are mobilized, in particular by the mobilization of young retirees and students. However, the government asks the French not to go to hospitals in case of mild symptoms, to privilege contact with the attending physician. In hospitals, "non-essential" care is postponed.
Work and study: as far away as possible
The government strongly encourages teleworking, which is possible for "roughly one in three jobs". Parents who have to take care of children under the age of 16 and who cannot use them are entitled to sick leave with daily subsistence allowance from the first day. Others can go to work. A daycare service must be set up region by region, for personnel "essential to the management of the health crisis", Emmanuel Macron announced on Thursday.
Schools, colleges, high schools and universities in the country close on Monday, at least until the spring break, affecting more than 12 million pupils and 2.6 million students. Educational continuity should be maintained as much as possible. Three to four hours of instruction per day - online exercises, "virtual class" by videoconference - must be offered. A site of the National Center for Distance Education will be dedicated to this mission, as announced by Jean-Michel Blanquer.
"The exams and the recruitment competitions are postponed" and "the candidates will be informed by email" announces Sunday the Ministry of Education. Driver's license exams are postponed indefinitely.
Transport: reduction of traffic and call to stay at home
The Ministry of Transport has confirmed the reduction in long distance journeys which will be drastically reduced: One TGV and Intercités on two, from Tuesday, on the rails and only "a few international flights" to the United States, Africa, Overseas and some domestic flights. Repatriations are organized, notably from Morocco where 12,000 French people are still stranded.
SNCF will "adapt its offer" to allow the French to return from vacation, the Minister of Ecological and Inclusive Transition, Élisabeth Borne confirmed that "everyone can of course return to their home." Public transport in urban areas is maintained, with 80% of metros in Paris in circulation, "normal traffic" for buses and trams, as well as RER A and B. Transport by taxi and VTC is maintained.
Leisure: sport and culture at a standstill
Most of the activities are canceled or postponed: the cinemas are closed, as are the museums, theaters, operas and swimming pools. Cultural and sporting events were canceled and public gatherings of more than 100 people were banned nationwide, or even 50 in the most affected areas, such as the Oise. The ski resorts closed on Saturday and Sunday.
Services: case by case
Several non-food stores fall into the "non-essential" category and are therefore closed. On the other hand, going to the bank, the banking establishments remain open, just like the tobacco shops. Newsagents can also continue operating. Bruno Le Maire also confirmed that "the pet stores and animal feed stores" remain open.
Civic duty and religion: precautions to take
The vote in the first round of the municipal elections was maintained, with important hygiene instructions but with a participation rate which fell sharply at 5 p.m. The second round, scheduled for next Sunday, is currently maintained.
Religious establishments can remain open if they wish, but gatherings are to be avoided. Masses are still celebrated in Catholic churches and offices in synagogues, but with minimal distances between the faithful. However, the Great Mosque of Paris has closed. All the mosques have been called by the French Council for Muslim Worship to suspend the organization of Friday prayers "until further notice". For Protestant worship, some churches have asked to close.