And from September. This Wednesday, March 31, 2021, at 8 p.m., Emmanuel Macron addressed the French for his seventh speech dedicated to the coronavirus pandemic. While the hospital lights are red and the morale of the population is at half mast, the Head of State announced a series of measures to try to finally contain the pandemic on French soil. A speech started with a heavy statement: “A year of pain, of hardships, where we will have been 4.5 million to contract the disease and where soon 100,000 families will have been bereaved”, recapitulated Emmanuel Macron, before announcing the changes to come.
Closure of schools throughout France
It was the confirmation that everyone was waiting for: nurseries, schools, colleges and high schools will be closed for three weeks. “Next week, classes for schools, colleges and high schools will be at home, except for the children of caregivers and a few other professions who will be welcomed, as well as children with disabilities”, said Emmanuel Macron. “The following two weeks, that is from April 12, the whole of France, whatever the holiday zone, will be placed on spring break. The start of the school year will therefore take place for all on April 26”.
This start of April 26 will take place physically for nursery and primary schools, but remotely for colleges and high schools. It is only on May 3 that college and high school students will be able to return to physics lessons, “with suitable gauges”. Important clarification: parents who will have to look after their children and will not be able to telework will be entitled to partial unemployment.
On the university side, students will only be able to go to university one day a week
“Reinforced braking measures” extended to the entire metropolitan territory
Another expected announcement, the extension of the constraints imposed in 19 French departments to the whole country. “The rules in force in the 19 departments in enhanced vigilance will be extended to the entire metropolitan territory from Saturday evening and for four weeks, explained Emmanuel Macron. (…) The curfew at 7 p.m. will be maintained. Teleworking, undoubtedly the most effective measure, will be systematized. The businesses will be closed. Citizens who wish to change region to isolate themselves will be able to do so for this Easter weekend. “
It therefore seems that the French will be able to change zones without too much difficulty during this extended weekend, before a new turn of the screw of the State.
The reopening of certain public places for mid-May
Emmanuel Macron wants to believe it: “From mid-May, we will start to open again with certain strict rules. We will authorize, under conditions, the opening of terraces and we will build, between mid-May and the beginning of summer, a schedule of gradual reopening. for culture, leisure sports, events, our cafes and restaurants “, he announced.
Vaccination of all adults in the spotlight
“We put all the means to vaccinate, to vaccinate without respite, without holidays. Saturday and Sunday, like the week”, said the Head of State, while the question of number of available doses continues to arise in some areas. The main thing, according to him, remains the “250,000 professionals, doctors, pharmacists, firefighters, nurses, veterinarians (…) today ready to contribute to this great national effort”.
The announced schedule: vaccination for 60 to 70 year olds will be open on April 16, 2021, for those over 50, on May 15 and from mid-June, “the meetings will be open to all French people”. “By the end of the summer, all French people over 18 who wish to be able to be vaccinated”, promises Emmanuel Macron.