Macron says France past the covid peak

Macron says France past the covid peak, from 28 November stores will open, but no skiing at Christmas

"We have slowed down the circulation of the virus, the peak of the second wave has passed", said Emmanuel Macron in his eagerly awaited intervew on live TV to the French public, to announce a loosening of lockdown measures. 

Stores will reopen from 28 November and from 15 December, there will be a further slackening of  “confinement" regulations .  From 20 December, high school classes will be back in attendance.  As for skiing, "it is unthinkable at Christmas," said Macron, who also announced the start of the first vaccinations perhaps as early as the end of December. The president thanked “the civility" of the French: "Our efforts, your efforts, have paid off”.

Stores and bookstores will reopen 28 November

From this Saturday, all stores and bookstores will reopen, announced Macron.  At this stage, the self-certification to go outside will remain enforced, but it will be possible to move up to 20 km away from your home. 

Also read: Paris Mayor urges citizens not to buy books on Amazon

From 15 December  the self- certification will no longer be mandatory, and the lockdown will give way to a 7pm curfew.  Christmas will be possible"with the family" but there will not be vacations “like the others”.  Bars and restaurants, as well as gyms, will reopen from 20 January if contagions are under 5,000 daily.

Skiing unthinkable at Christmas

Speaking on the opening of ski resorts in France, the French President stated "there is a consultation with the government" and also "with neighboring countries," adding: "It seems impossible to imagine an opening for the holidays.  It will be better to orient ourselves for a reopening during the month of January”.

Vaccinations at the end of December

"Vaccinations against covid-19 could begin in France between late December and early January," said Macron, specifying that "it will not be mandatory.

Over 50 thousand dead in France

Even France, as in Italy, has exceeded the threshold of 50,000 victims of covid-19. According to Santé Publique data, with 454 deaths in hospitals and a cumulation of 4 days of deaths in nursing homes and institutions for the disabled (551), today the figure of 50,237 deaths since the beginning of the pandemic has been reached.