Paris (AFP)

"The economy must neither stop nor collapse," said President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday after announcing a national reconfinement to fight against the spread of Covid-19.

The work "can continue" during this second confinement which will begin on Friday for a month, "you will be able to go out to work," said Emmanuel Macron during his televised address.

But "wherever possible, teleworking will again be generalized", he continued, explaining that compared to the first episode of confinement in the spring, "the activity will continue with more intensity".

This means in particular that "the counters of public services will remain open, factories, farms, buildings and public works will continue to operate".

In contrast, bars, restaurants and "non-essential shops" will close across the country.

"I know that many traders hoped not to close, I know that for downtown businesses, I ask for a very big effort: let's hold it with great rigor for 15 days (and) if within 15 days, we have better control of the situation, we can then reassess things and hope to open certain businesses, in particular in this so important period before the Christmas holidays, ”detailed the Head of State.

Faced with these new restrictions, which are synonymous with difficulties for many companies already weakened by the health crisis, the government has planned to set up a "special plan" dedicated to self-employed workers, traders, micro-businesses and SMEs.

"A special plan will be made for the self-employed, traders, very small and medium-sized enterprises", indicated Emmanuel Macron, adding that employees and employers "who cannot work will continue (...) to benefit from partial unemployment and we will complete with cash measurements for charges and rents for the next few weeks ”.

"This economic response among the most protective in the world will continue, it will be even more important than in March, for our small businesses closed administratively with the support of up to 10,000 euros per month of their loss in turnover" , he said.

The government also intends to support craftsmen, very small businesses and SMEs who "will undertake digitization initiatives" in order to modernize and better cope with the health crisis.

© 2020 AFP