Day 49 - Confinement in France - The easing up on the lockdown-plan...update

Bonjour tout le monde 

Here we are on day 49 of confinement or lockdown in France. If you're like our cat above - we are just tired of all of it.  But we continue with hope and with our ongoing human spirit.  There is a light forming at the end of the tunnel...we are beginning to see it...but we still have a ways to go. 

Last Tuesday afternoon - April 28 - the Premier Minister - Edouard Philippe spoke about the potential next stage for La France, if numbers continue to go down regarding the virus, new cases and hospitalizations alike.  This is a summary of his speech given to the National Assembly - (France's version of the US Congress).  

Watching the number of  severe cases decrease as we moved through April

Translation and resumé of Edouard Philippe's speech to National Assembly - April 28, 2020

Post confinement plans

The country cannot be forever confined. This plan's objective will be debated by the deputies and put to a vote.

(Here are the conditions regarding the virus)

- If the numbers don’t show a decline we will not deconfine on the 11th May or we will be under more strict terms than originally planned. The uncertainty is around the number of new daily covid-19 cases or the contamination chain for instance.  We must push the French people to be at the utmost discipline until the 11th May and to fight against any risk of laxity that we are feeling around us at this moment in time. (Simply put - we need to continue to adhere to the strict lockdown procedures.)

- After an initial phase of de-confinement on 11th May, a new stage will follow on the 2nd June for 3 weeks, with new measures that will all depend upon the level of this epidemic at that time.

- the deconfinement will be differentiated on 11th May between various regions: ‘green’ where it will be applied widely and ‘red’ where there will be more restrictions.  (They began reporting the status of each region by a map last Thursday April 30)

For this 3 different criterias will be studied up until and on the 7th May to determine within which regions:

1. the virus is still actively circulating (number of new cases being observed)

2. How hospitals regionally are coping in terms of capacity and pressure within intensive care units

3. In which region(s) the volume of local testing & detection kits are not quite ready

Regarding Transport

- wearing of masks will be compulsory on all public transport

- the number of people allowed on public transport will be reduced to respect social distancing (in carriages etc)

- interregional transport will be reduced to maximum level

- NO MORE need for an ‘attestation’ (signed honor statement) from the 11th May, unless for any travel further         than 100km from your home

- Ask that those over 65’s continue to limit their contact with people and the outside world

Events and Gatherings

- All large sporting/ cultural or any events with more than 5000 people will not go ahead until September earliest

- Cinemas/ Theatres/ Large museums and concert halls will continue to stay closed post 11th May for now

- Gatherings will be limited to 10 people from the 11th May on both public or private areas

- Beaches will stay closed until at least 1st June

- The professional sports season for 2019-2020 will not be able to resume

- no religious ceremonies before the 2nd June

- Funerals will continue to be limited to 20 people with cemeteries reopening as of 11th May

Schools and Crèche

- Progressive reopening of preschool and primary schools as of 11th May decided by region. 

  Parents may chose to not send children as long as distance learning is followed.

- Crèche will also reopen from 11th May with groups of max 10 children

- All workers within these establishments need to wear mandatory ‘grand publique’ masks

- Under 3’s not obliged to wear masks

- From 18th May and only in regions where the virus circulation is low (green) they may envisage opening

   collège (middle  schools) - starting with 6eme & 5eme (US equiv- 6th&7th grade)

- Wearing of masks will be mandatory in ‘collège’ secondary schools, these will be distributed to those who have     not been able to acquire their own

- A decision will be made at the end of May with regards to ‘lycée’s’ (high schools) along with 4ème & 3ème (8th     & 9th grade ) in the middle schools reopening starting with lycée professionnelles beginning of June

Work

- Working from home must be continued where possible for at least the next 3 weeks (after 11th May)

- Flexible hours to be put in place where working from home is not possible

- Wearing of masks at work mandatory when physical distancing is difficult to have in place due to nature of work

- The partial unemployment’ offers by the govt to stay in place until 1st June

About masks

- It is recommended (as scientists and experts have suggested) to wear a mask whenever possible in many

   circumstances

- the PM promises there will be enough masks in France to face the needs on the 11th May

- They strongly advise companies to equipe their staff with the necessary safety protection required and for 

   members of the public to make their own masks using the various practical guides, online wherever possible.

- Nearly 100 million surgical masks received per week

- Collective regional support for the purchase of masks taking 50% charge of reusable/ washable masks

- Pharmacies and supermarkets are invited to sell masks (single use or reusable)

News on testing
- widely test people who have covid19 symptoms and those they are in contact with them.
- a ‘team’ has been put in place in each region to identify these people who may have been in contact with 
  someone presenting symptoms
- Their objective is to have done 700,000 virological tests per week starting 11th May
- Those tested positive will self isolate at home (which will mean everyone in their home too) for 14 days, or else 
  housed in accommodation put at disposition by the govt (requisitioned hotels for example)
- Health insurance to cover 100% of these tests

Commerce

- Shops to reopen on 11th May except restaurants/ bars/ cafés. Masks recommended to be worn by personnel 

   and clients alike

- All outdoor food markets will reopen 11th May apart from some exceptions - & are too follow social distancing

   guidelines.

- Commercial malls will not reopen if they are over 40,000 square metres in order to avoid the vast movement of 

   the population

END OF MAY they will evaluate the conditions and announce a new phase of de confinement. In particular a decision on how/ when to open up the possibility of restaurants, bars, cafés and summer holidays.

So we eagerly wait for May 11 - that light - it's not the end of the tunnel but it's the light that we can see.  France has consistently chosen to move in 3 week intervals -lockdown, extension of the lockdown...and now we wait for May 11...

None of these conditions are too much of a surprise.  Most businesses, stores and restaurants are all eager to re-open.  But there is also fear - fear of a second wave - fear that the virus will spread more as people are out and about.  The French government is constantly telling us that we are NOT returning to life as we knew it.  We are taking initial steps to ease some of the restrictions for those regions that are ready.  But we haven't had the green light yet....

As of today - France counts - 168,693 cases of Coronavirus with 24,895 deaths. For the past 10 days the number of  deaths and the number of patients in ICU has steadily been dropping.  Now in certain regions of France - they are still over bed capacity in their ICU's but in other regions - are well within normal limits.  It's a waiting game - the same as it is world wide.  In our region of Nouvelle Aquitaine - we were not hit as hard with the virus (fewer cases, hospitalizations and deaths) so we have more hope that come May 11 - we will be one of the regions to experience this first step - first phase of deconfinement.

My biggest concern is the kids returning to school.  I'm waiting to see what the town is proposing.  As my girls are older - I have a slightly different perspective than a parent with elementary age children.  At this point, my youngest (12.5 years old) would be starting first.  She will be required to where a mask.  She is also old enough to know how to keep her distance.  No hugs, no kisses on the cheeks with friends - no touching!  She needs to see her friends, she needs interaction - but she is also old enough to know the rules and follow them.  There will also be a lot of hand washing!

The schools are suppose to limit the classroom size to 15 kids.  But we are not sure how this will happen - half days? half weeks?  A weeks and B weeks?  I would chose to take me daughter to school or to have her ride her bike.  She would not be taking public transport at this point.  We just don't have all the information yet.

But I'm waiting to see what is proposed for our town and her school.  I know the teachers and the schools in general are having a hard time figuring this all out.  So it's another waiting game to see if returning to school is really going to happen.  I know for the High school students they have postponed the decision until June 1 - and for my oldest - she's not returning.  (Yes, a trip will need to be made to get her stuff out of her room...oh joy!!!).  

So it's still wait and see here in France - with a hope toward next Monday - the magic date of May 11!!!  We continue to live in our limited confined state at home.

Seafood delight!!  Reaping the benefits of living near the Ocean!

Pancakes!!

lots of  reading going on...

Paella - made by our wonderful neighbor!!

And really missing this!!  I miss my clients, my job and showing off this beautiful area on a daily basis.  This is what I was doing one year ago today!!!  A fun little trip to the Sauternes region with my clients from Viking Cruises!  So looking forward to seeing my clients again!!

 

Chateau Rayne Vigneau - Sauternes

Hope everyone is well & taking care of themselves.

A Bientot - See you again soon!

Day 42 - Confinement - Lockdown in France - Update on life and when we might slowly return to normal...

Update - Confinement/Lockdown- 7th week

It's now been 6 weeks that we have been in strict confinement here in France - I know the last time I wrote - we were waiting to hear about a possible extension & yes, as we thought- the confinement was extended until at least May 11.  But they very quickly added that on May 11, we would not be returning to life as it was - it will be a progressive return to life and definitely different than before.

This state of strict confinement is definitely getting long.  We all have good days and bad days.  Often all feels okay, it's fine and in other moments - it's just so very tiresome!!  How many times can I rearrange my cupboards, clean the refrigerator, search new recipes to try or pull weeds out of the garden?  .  We choose to go out as little as possible, in France the saying is "Restez chez vous" (Stay home).  Yes, I take my walks but for this past week, it's been rainier and colder and frankly, I have had little motivation to go out and even though the days pass - it's frankly getting quite long.  I miss getting out and about.  Socializing or even just wandering around the city.  The big outing last week was to shop at our local warehouse store and I picked up items for my neighbors.  This meant I could deliver and talk to them for a few minutes outside - keeping our social distance.  It's amazing when you are so use to interacting with people, how much you actually miss it when you can't.  I adore my neighbors - we are all around the same age with children about the same age - so it's nice to catch up and chat a bit.  It's different in person versus Zoom or messaging.  I am a social person - I enjoy interacting with people, it gives me energy.  I miss my job, I miss my clients.  I miss showing and touring the region.

I have done projects that I have put off for years - cleaning out personal papers, re-arranging cabinets, cleaning numerous times.  I have enjoyed trying out new recipes.  Lots of people have said that they have had confinement projects, and yes, I made some masks and I've organized things - but it's getting tiresome.  I am so ready to return to life.

 

But they say here, life won't be as we knew it before.  The government is working on a deconfinement  plan - phasing in re-openings and returning to work/normal life.  Returning to school for the children is also part of this plan...but all will be phased in slowly. Slowly.. They have already announced that most stores can re-open on May 11 with safe sanitary measures in place - social distancing, anti-bacterial gel,  & masks (if needed). But restaurants and bars will remain closed for a while longer.

The wearing or not wearing of masks has been a big debate here in France.  Is it really that helpful in the general public, especially if you keep your social distance?  Do people know how to appropriately wear them?  As there has been a shortage, how does the country insure that all people have them?  We have listened and watched the media reviewing all of these questions and more.  So far in France, they have announced that masks will be required when riding public transportation. Cities and towns have ordered reusable masks for their populations to be distributed within the next weeks or so. 

May 11 also marks the re-opening of schools - but this is still to be organized.  This is a very heated topic in France as many parents, teachers & doctors are not in favor of this and would prefer that schools wait until September to re-open.

But here is what has been laid out so far by the government regarding schools:

All schools will be thoroughly disinfected before opening.

Class sizes will be limited to 15 students with social distancing measures put in place.

The details on what this will look like or how this will be done will be up to each School. Not all schools will open at the same time - levels and grades will be phased in:

May 11th. 

The date when children in three year groups - grande section (US-Kindergarten, 5-6 year olds), CP (first year of école primaire, 6-7 year olds- US-1st Grade) and CM2 (last year of école primaire, 10-11 year olds-US 5th grade) will return to school.

May 18th.

From May 18th secondary school pupils in 6e (11-12 year olds-US -6th grade), 3e (14-15 year olds- US 9th grade) and lycéens (high schoolers) in the second and third years (Première and Terminale- US- 11th& 12th grade) will be able to return to school.

May 25th.

The week the remaining classes go back to school.

Parents can choose to keep their children at home as long as distance-learning modules can be maintained.

Universities and Post-Secondary studies will remain closed until September.

Use of masks are probable but no firm decision has been declared yet.

There are still many questions from many parents and teachers as to what this will really look like in each school.  Normal class sizes runs between 30-35 students in many establishments. Class sizes in the lower grades are also as high as 25 - so how will the limit of 15 be met?  Can we really expect children, especially young children to keep proper social distancing from their friends?  Again so many questions and not a lot of answers yet.

The girls are anxious to return to school, see their friends and get out of the house.  All of this is normal but life will not return to what it was - not yet in any case.  Still so many questions.

In any case, we continue to receive information regarding exactly how things will work when the lockdown is lifted.  Early on we watched a lot of news regarding the epidemic and especially how it affected France and the United States.  But recently it's been media overload and we have cut back on our viewing.  We listen for the highlights and read papers/news when we want.  In these days and times, my phone will send notifications when a big news happens.  This allows me to relax and enjoy my days and not get too worried about what is to come.

We still have a 2 weeks before the magic date of May 11, but I know May 11 will not mean life as it was - it will not be the same as before...it will be different.  This date may also be pushed out further depending on the statistics of the virus.

So we wait to get more information.  In the meantime, it's life confined at home.....

I hope everyone is doing well and staying safe.

 

Score some oysters from Cap Ferret - delivered directly to the house!! Yum!!!

Day 21 - Confinement in France - the uncertainly, the waiting & my beloved Bordeaux

We have finished our 3rd week of official confinement in France.  Still waiting for the situation in France to improve healthwise with this virus.  Still too many deaths, too many people in Intensive care and still new cases each day.  I try not to worry too much, but this is the daily news.

Life last week the girls returned to my home and fell back into their routine of schoolwork.  We did add exercising to the mix.  By French confinement rules, we are allowed one hour a day to venture out for exercise.  The State stresses that this is for exercising not for just being out wandering.  So on Wednesday afternoon, the older girls headed off on a jog for an hour and my 12 year old & I went off on a brisk walk....well I walked briskly, she followed on her skateboard!  (Children have a bit more flexibility with the rules, they can go out with their parents on bikes, skateboards etc...)   As adults we can't ride our bikes except for either going to work (if approved) or to run the necessary errands. In any case, it felt really nice to venture out beyond our walls.  It felt so nice that I have begun a new routine of a power walk each day.  It does feel good.  But it is for exercising, not just to get out - it feels good to exercise & work out that underlying stress of this whole situation.

 

To be honest, it's still stressful even to go out.  I've realized that there is a feeling of safety to be home, staying at home.  We have control at home, everything is clean, no one is sick.  I'm a not a person who is fanatic about these things, but this virus is definitely something serious and it makes you think twice about how germs are transmitted.  It's important to keep things clean & stay healthy.  I do believe that exercising daily helps our immune systems and I believe that this was the true intent of the 1 hour a day allowance of exercising.  

Each night we watch the news to see how everything is going.  We are somewhat lucky here in our part of France - we are one of the areas lesser hit - fewer cases in total for our region.  But the virus is still here none the less and still increasing.  We watch to see how many new cases, how many new deaths - both as a country and as a region.  We watch for the number of cases to lessen, the number of deaths each day to lessen..we wait & we hope.  It didn't help this last week that France was originally showing numbers of deaths in just the hospitals but not in the nursing homes & they finally added them all in and are now appropriately counting them both.  This means that our numbers took a bit jump all of a sudden.  It's important to understand how each country is counting their deaths.  I just learned this morning, that in the United Kingdom, they are just counting like France was doing before - confirmed cases of Covid-19 who pass away at the hospital.  But there seem to be other deaths, outside of the hospitals where Covid-19 was listed as the cause on their death certificates and these are not in their offical numbers.  This makes it harder to compare countries and situations.

Of course, I keep a close eye on the United States too.  So it's actually a bit of a double stress for me as I follow our life here in France, along with the mess in the United States.  I definitely have to limit my news information, it gets overwhelming too easily & too fast.

As of yesterday, as we started our 4th week in confinement - here in France, like elsewhere, there is the debate about everyone wearing masks in the general public.  At this point, it is not mandatory, it's seems to be highly recommended and this might change in the immediate future.  It's been reported that the city of Bordeaux has ordered reusable fabric masks for everyone that can be worn and cleaned for a duration of 30 days.  New details keep emerging but like many other areas, many people are making their own and using them when out and about.  

In all of this sadness, sometimes it's necessary to laugh.  The following was a comic sent to me by friends.  It translate to:  Trump's advisors have advised him to wear a mask. But they were not precise enough.

There is definitely the concern here that people are getting tired of being confined and are going out more.  Especially in Paris, where this last weekend, there were many photographs of people out and about "doing their shopping" or "exercising" - but many more than before.

I just read an article from here in Bordeaux about the stupid excuses that people gave our local police here in Bordeaux to justify their ventures out and about.  Like the woman who was wandering along with a pet carrier under her arm & told the police that she is allowed to walk her dog...a stuffed dog!!  Or the man who tells the police that his dog just ran off the leash...  For exercising, the woman who tells the police that she has the right to exercise her infant son in a stroller because isn't it the same as exercising her dog?  In Paris, it's worse, there are just more and more people venturing out.
You can see it's starting to get long for people...

In Paris, today they have started new controls that indicate that you do NOT have the right to exercise between 10am & 7pm.  All in an effort to get people to think twice and stay home.  Some cities have installed curfews that no one is to be out after certain hours.  We protect ourselves & we protect others.

They have just announced that President Macron will be speaking on Thursday evening.  Will he extend our confinement until the end of April? There is so much uncertainty, so much that is unknown....from my single perspective, I think the confinement will be extended as France has not started seeing a consistent decrease in the number of deaths or the number of cases admitted to the hospital.  We have good days and bad days.  There seems to be glimmers of hope from Italy and from Spain - but remember both countries have been locked down very strictly for the past few weeks..
So we will wait and see.


In the meantime,  as I have done before, I wanted to share a little corner of our paradise.  Here's a few photos of my beloved Bordeaux - the city that has gone very quiet over the past month.  I long to return to the keyside, to the center and enjoy it's charm.

The Grosse Cloche

The Stone Bridge - Le Pont Pierre

Winter skies along the Key side

More views along the Garonne River

Wishing everyone well and I hope you are staying safe.  Until next time....