The government has decided to make a gesture but without going back its decision to close small businesses to fight against the spread of Covid-19 in France.
Prime Minister Jean Castex announced Sunday, November 1 during an interview at 8:00 p.m. on TF1 that open supermarkets will have to block access to the shelves of non-essential products from Tuesday.
"This is certainly not the time to go back on the measures announced, it is much too early", said the head of government who urged "everyone, beyond traders, (to be) extremely vigilant" and to respect this confinement: "The survival of the economy depends on it, our collective health is at stake," he insisted.
"The sale of products which (...) are already prohibited in convenience stores" will also be prohibited "in supermarkets" from Tuesday, added the Prime Minister.
A new point in 15 days
Recognizing that it was for him a "heartbreak", Jean Castex promised to "massively support (these businesses) so that they do not go out of business".
"An appointment has already been made to see if the situation improves, how they can gradually get out of this situation, that is the reconciliation of economic imperatives and health imperatives," he added.
"But as we speak, it is clear that the priority is protecting the health of our fellow citizens."
The Prime Minister said he understood that the French "moan", adding that a point would be made "in 15 days and then, above all, at the deadline of December 1 set as the end of this confinement".
"I say to these traders and to all the others, the better you will respect the rules today to all our fellow citizens, the better you will respect all these health safety instructions, the faster we can get out," he added.
With AFP
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