Covid-19: 16 departments, including Ile-de-France, placed under relaxed confinement for one month
French Prime Minister Jean Castex during his press conference on March 17, 2021. AFP - MARTIN BUREAU
Text by: RFI Follow
3 min
Jean Castex announced Thursday, March 18 a new four-week confinement in Ile-de-France and Hauts-de-France, two regions particularly affected by the worsening of the epidemic due to the coronavirus observed throughout the France.
This confinement, which will come into force on Friday at midnight, also concerns the departments of Alpes-Maritimes, Eure and Seine-Maritime.
Publicity
Read more
"
New massive measures to curb the epidemic will take place from this Friday evening midnight, and for 4 weeks
" and could be extended "
if necessary to other parts of the territory
", declared Prime Minister Jean Castex during the meeting. 'a press conference, specifying however that the schools would remain open.
These containment measures will however be more flexible than the previous ones in March and November 2020. It will indeed be possible to leave home to breathe, play sports or walk within a radius of 10 kilometers without time limit. by completing a certificate.
Non-essential businesses closed
Non-essential businesses will, however, be closed for a period of one month as during previous confinements.
"
To slow the epidemic, we must reduce
(...)
the opportunities for contact in closed places
," said Jean Castex.
"
Closing some of the shops must contribute to this, regardless of the specific risks associated with their frequentation
".
"
For the sake of fairness, the sales restrictions will apply to the same products whether they are sold in a department store, a specialized store or a small downtown business
," he added.
In a hypermarket, some departments considered essential will remain open, but those selling non-essential products will no longer be accessible.
Delayed curfew, reinforced teleworking
The curfew will also be delayed in mainland France from Saturday from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., in particular to take into account the change to summer time, announced Jean Castex.
"
This adjustment
(...) will
concern all the departments and not only
" those "
subject
(to)
reinforced measures
" to curb the circulation of the virus, specified the head of government, for whom "
this choice to restrict less the possibilities of leaving one's home must however be accompanied by real vigilance
”on the part of the population.
Jean Castex also asked "
all companies and administrations which can" to push "to the maximum
" teleworking to put it in place "
at least four days out of five
" and thus "
be vigilant
" on the risks of contamination at job.
Believing that "
the time of meals in the workplace
" is particularly at risk, the Prime Minister also called for the establishment "
by the beginning of next week
" of a "
significantly strengthened protocol for collective catering in companies
”.
Newsletter
Receive all international news directly in your mailbox
I subscribe
Follow all the international news by downloading the RFI application
google-play-badge_FR
France
Coronavirus
Confinement
Jean Castex