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UPDATE: These are the rules of the partial lockdown extended across France

The Local France
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UPDATE: These are the rules of the partial lockdown extended across France
Two policemen stand guard near the Sacre Coeur basilica in Montmartre area in Paris on November 26, 2020, as the country is on a lockdown to stop the spread of the covid-19 pandemic caused by the novel coronavirus. (Photo by Thomas COEX / AFP)

The whole of France will be placed under a limited lockdown for four weeks from Saturday April 3rd, President Emmanuel Macron announced on Wednesday and schools will close their premises. Here's the complete guide to what is allowed.

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When?

The partial lockdown was already in place in 19 départements, mainly the Paris region and parts of northern France but from Saturday April 3rd they will be extended across the whole of the country. Schools will be closed from Monday April 5th for three to weeks (see more below) including two weeks holiday.

The restrictions will be in place nationwide for four weeks, so if they succeed in reducing the infection rate and ease pressure on hospitals they could end on May 2nd. However during previous lockdowns, restrictions have often been extended beyond the initial end dates.

What are the rules?

After initial widespread confusion the government decided that an attestation permission form would NOT be needed for trips out between 6am and 7pm, as long as they are within 10km of home. People will however need to carry ID and proof of address in case of a police check. If they don't have proof of address then they need to fill out the permission form.

"There will be no attestation to move around during the day within a limit of 10km," said Macron on Wednesday night.

"The irresponsibility of some should not undermine the efforts of everyone. We have taken the choice of trust, we have taken the choice of responsibility," he said.

You can find the attestation HERE or on the TousAntiCovid app.

The full list of accepted reasons for going out are:
  • Physical exercise, walking, walking the dog (within 10 km of your home)
  • Shopping for basic necessities, or to pick up ordered goods
  • Accompanying children to school or out-of-school activities
  • Visiting a cultural establishment (libraries and media libraries) or a place of worship
  • Attending to administrative or legal formalities

Permitted reasons for travelling outside your département with an attestation are: 

  • For work, education and training, general interest missions
  • Health reasons (consultations and care/treatment)
  • Compelling family reasons, to help vulnerable or needy persons, or for childcare
  • Transporting people with disabilities and their carers
  • Judicial or administrative summons
  • Moving home
  • Transit travel to stations and airports

According to the attestation those living close to the border of their département are allowed to travel up to 30km from their home for the above reasons.

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Everyone who can should work from home, although there is still an exemption for one day a week of work in the workplace for people who feel their mental health is being affected by 100 percent home-working.

For trips out after 7pm the curfew rules are still in force, so attestations are needed, trips out for exercise once curfew begins are not allowed and dog walks should be limited to within 1km of home.

The permitted reasons for being outside after 7pm are similar to those stated above.

And what are these 'relaxations' of the rules?

There are several aspects of this lockdown that have been slightly eased or altered, compared to the national lockdown in November.

  • There is no time limit on trips outside for exercise, as long as you are within 10km of your home
  • As mentioned above, attestations are not required for any trip within 10km of home between 6am and 7pm
  • Non-essential shops are shut, but the definition of essential has been expanded to include hairdressers, bookshops and music shops, in addition to the businesses which remained open during the November lockdown 

Gatherings of groups of more than six people outside at not allowed, and police will be stepping up checks on gatherings and on people drinking alcohol in public, which is banned in some areas.

Gatherings inside the home are not explicitly banned but are strongly discouraged with people asked to keep socialising - especially over the Easter weekend - to a minimum.

On Thursday, the day after Macron's speech, French PM Jean Castex told parliament that drinking alcohol outside in public places will be banned and certain areas where people tend to gather will be sealed off.

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Travel

Normally inter-regional travel is only allowed for a vital reason, including work-related travel or those exemptions mentioned above. 

However President Emmanuel Macron announced that the rules on regional travel would be relaxed over Easter weekend to allow people to change their place of residence for the duration of the new restrictions.

The new attestation contains a category for trips to/from the airport or train station if you are on a long-distance journey.

Importantly France's Council of State has decided that these rules also apply to anyone who has been fully vaccinated.

Penalty

As with all health rules in France, breaking the lockdown can land you with a €135 fine, rising to €3,750 and six months in jail for repeat offenders.

School changes

The school measures are as follows:

Monday, April 5th – School premises to close with a week of distance learning for infant, primary, secondary and high schools. 

Monday, April 12th – The start of the two-week Easter holiday for all schools, across all areas of France (a change in holiday dates for most schools given France's April holidays were based on a zone system)

Monday, April 26th – Return of in-person infant and primary (maternelles and primaires) classes – secondary and high schools to continue with distance learning

Monday, May 3rd – secondary and high schools return to in-person classes

Parents who are unable to work while their children are out of school will qualify for temporary work furlough or financial aid.

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Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.

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Anonymous 2021/04/06 18:12
I am struggling to understand the 30km tolérance rule for those living near a department border. I wish to click and collect some things from IKEA Avignon. But Avignon is in Vaucluse, just over the border from `Bouches du Rhone where I live. IKEA Avignon is within 30 km of my home. Will an Attestation cover my trip?
Anonymous 2021/04/01 09:25
"However President Emmanuel Macron announced that the rules on regional travel would be relaxed over Easter weekend to allow people to change their place of residence for the duration of the new restrictions." So another fudge up. One either locks a country down properly or not. It's a matter of having the balls to lead a country in the bad times which unfortunately Macron doesn't have. If he doesn't pull his finger out we will get stuck with Le Pen then it's God help us all.
Anonymous 2021/04/01 08:56
Im on holiday in Spain. Ive paid til the 8th of APril.. Can I drive back to my home in France then? Or do I have to leave on Monday? and shorten my trip?
Anonymous 2021/03/31 21:47
Hi, I am a hairdresser. Does this new light lockdown mean I cannot work for four weeks? I’m confused! Thankyou
  • Anonymous 2021/04/01 19:17
    If you read the article it states hairdressers can open
Anonymous 2021/03/26 12:22
Has anyone driven south from Paris in the past week? Any Police stops anywhere? Especially at the Ile de France "border". I have a residence in Paris and one near Nice. My office is in Sophia Antipolis. Principale is in Paris, secondaire Nice. I had to come to Paris for 3 weeks to train clients. My car plates are PACA. But immitriculation is Paris. Don't ask.
Anonymous 2021/03/19 20:10
I'm a bit confused about the 10 km distance Does that mean if I want to take a bus from Nice to my former village, Le Bar-sur-Loup (which is 31 km away), I cannot go for the next four weeks? I'd love to know before making the mistake of getting on the 500 bus. Thank you
  • Daniela.Provvedi_305595 2021/03/22 09:30
    Hi Greta, It all depends where you live and whether you can prove you live there (Electricity bill, bank statement, etc). If you live in Nice and you want to travel 31km to Bar-sur-Loup then that's out of the 10km zone you're allowed to travel. If however, you're travelling to Bar-sur-Loup because you work there (and once again, you can prove it), then you have no problem. My partner and I live in Saint Blaise, and he works in Nice (26km from our home). That travel is allowed, because he can prove he lives here, and he can prove he works in Nice. I hope that helps, good luck and take care.
Anonymous 2021/03/19 19:26
Can we take public transit to parks or other areas in nature to get some fresh air within the 10km radius?
  • Anonymous 2021/03/31 21:27
    That has been the case so far. We are in Paris and have been able to take the trains out to forests within 10km without any problems.
  • Daniela.Provvedi_305595 2021/03/22 09:31
    From what I understand, as long as you're within the 10km radius from your home, you can. Just ensure that you've got some means of proving where you live (a bill or bank statement).
Anonymous 2021/03/18 22:59
To provide us with 24 hours notice is RIDICULOUS!
  • Anonymous 2021/04/01 02:52
    Completely ridiculous. Someone must inform the disease that 24hours notice is also required before passing from one infectee to the next :-)

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