France: On coronavirus lockdown indoors
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France: On coronavirus lockdown indoors

Spring weather came to France - the most beautiful time! The crooked branches of magnolia trees in the gardens are in splendid blossom, the first leaves appear on plane-trees, the sun gets hotter and no doubt there is a temptation to go out for a walk. However, the streets are deserted, and all shops are closed. The country and all the people are experiencing a tragedy - the crisis caused by the new coronavirus epidemic.

To this date, there are above 1,850,000 confirmed cases of the COVID-19 infected patients, and France ranks fourth among the countries most affected by this unstudied disease. According to the latest data published by the WHO, the country has over 132,000 cases of infected patients and 14,393 patients died.

It all started with a few people 

The first cases of the new coronavirus infection were reported in Bordeaux and it was brought in by the French who came from China.

However, a large-scale outbreak was recorded in mid-February in Mulhouse, a city in the north-east of France in the Grand Est region.

Then, several cases were reported in the departments of Oise and Upper Savoy (Haute-Savoie).

Nevertheless, the head of the republic decided to fight the virus ‘locally’ by closing the establishments in the regions affected by the new virus only.

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Such moves were unsuccessful, and Covid-19 began to spread across France in lightning speed. At first, all mass gatherings and sports events that were supposed to be attended by 5,000+ people, then by 1,000+ people, and then by 100+ people were banned for some time. But this did not help, either. Shortly afterwards, on March 12, the head of the state announced the closure of all the educational institutions in France. When the pandemic was announced, Emmanuel Macaron launched a ‘war’ against the coronavirus. On March 16, President Macron announced a mandatory quarantine for 15 days from noon of March 17.

So, the borders of France were closed - it was possible to get into the country through Paris only, and all public places were closed.

The country was quarantined

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The citizens of France stayed under lockdown in four walls amid the coronavirus outbreak.

Foreseers stocked up pasta, milk and bread in advance. The Slavic French community bought all the buckwheat and flour in the shops, as well as ravioli because they resemble Russian meat dumplings (pelmeni).

This behavior, of course, caused a disruption in the supply of food products and led to the situation when the shelves in grocery stores were empty.

The day before the final closure of the public places, the entire population rushed ‘shopping’. People crowded in front of the bakeries, supermarkets, pharmacies, grocery stores. Near large hypermarkets, human ‘jams’ were seen even from the beginning of parking lots just to get inside the store, and there was a line to get shopping carts because one had to buy food for two weeks, as the authorities told then.

The impression was that people were really gearing themselves for war.

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The next day, the ‘troops’ entered the French cities ... life in the city seemed nearly dead.

It is forbidden to go out, but still you can 

Having taken some time off after the crazy ‘hunting through the shops’ and having sorted out the products bought, the French began to comprehend what was happening.

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Recently, the Parisians who used to stroll about the Seine river banks - deep in peace - went home, the streets emptied, and it became very quiet. In fact, everyone was reading something. They read papers sent by the government and the recommendations on how to behave during the quarantine and where you are allowed to go and where you cannot go.

Here are the main points:

- You are not allowed to leave your home without a good reason. If you have symptoms of a respiratory infection or a temperature above 37.5 degrees, stay at home, call your doctor, and limit your contacts with other people, if possible.

- You are allowed to leave your home by filling out a declaration by yourself. You are allowed to go to your work; leave home for health reasons; make necessary purchases; for urgent family reasons - to help vulnerable people; take short walks near the house associated with the individual physical activity of people, excluding any collective sports activities; and also take your dog for a walk.

You are allowed to leave your home if you cannot work remotely or this is driven by professional necessity.

All types of public and private transport operate regularly.

And one more thing: it is forbidden to go shopping, but if you really need to, you can; you are not allowed to visit your parents and friends, but if you really need to, you can; you are not allowed to take a walk, but you can do this with your children and dogs.

If you do not have a special declaration, you may be fined several hundred euros.

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To go to the nearest store to buy some food, now you need to have twice as much time - only 5 people are allowed inside, and the whole line is outside. The people in queues are also supposed to maintain a 2-metre social distance from each other.

People walk with their dogs near the house and make a short walk. And now, it’s allowed to have longer walks with children.

Seriously speaking

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But, seriously speaking, the situation is horrific.

On March 27, Prime Minister Edouard Philippe extended the quarantine period until April 15.

Despite the fact that mortality from Covid-19 is relatively low, the disease can be quite serious, and many patients really need admission and artificial lung ventilation.

In hospitals, there is not enough space for all the people infected.

It was reported earlier that in Mulhouse, by decree of the government, military tents were converted into reception centres for patients infected by the new coronavirus.

On March 22, 2020, Switzerland announced that three hospitals on the border with Alsace (Grand Est, France) agreed to receive any French patients, it was done as the representatives of this French region sought help. Patients from the Grand Est region were also taken to the hospitals in Baden-Württemberg, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saar and Hessen in Germany.

As of April 1, 2020, over 100 patients with Covid-19 from Alsace were transferred for treatment to Germany, Luxembourg and Switzerland. 

Applauding and cheering the health workers

Despite the difficult situation and the crisis, the French have come together as never before. Being locked down ‘in four walls’ at their homes, they suffer this disaster together and support each other.

Every day at 8.00 p.m. local time, thunderous applause are heard through the streets - the people applaud to the health workers and those who are fighting the virus at the forefront.

In the evenings, sentimentalists sing songs on their balconies for their neighbours, and some people hang up posters throughout the house with the words of support.

The French organize ‘balcony’ flashmobs dancing, singing or exercising, but most importantly, they stay at home.

Take care of yourself and your family members! Stay at home!

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