Second national lockdown declared in France

It is a sad situation here. I have not gone out much for the last few weeks, that ment missing my DGD’s religious church service and the family celebration after. I had meals on wheels later but I did miss the family reunion. I will also miss another DGD’s birthday this next weekend but I have to think that I will be there for future years to celibate.

Here we must wear masks when outside however there are always a few that think they are not necessary. I live in a very small block of flats. We are all retired except one couple, my neighbours, who made it clear during a reunion, they don’t believe in lockdowns, as people must die at some time. You could have heard a pin drop with the silence that followed.

The hospitals are getting to breaking point, a tv reporter was in one and they asked one 45 year old man how he thought he caught Covid, he replied that he had his holiday in Italy.
One doctor in the south said that even though some of their section have Covid they are continuing to work with the Covid patients. I have full confidence in Mr Macron, form filling and mask wearing, which some think is hard, is a small price to pay.

This last year has been a big change in lifestyle for me, from working nearly full time in school, I am now sitting at home twiddling my thumbs, I have had to stop because of my age (70). I do work at the townhall and those classes will go onto zoom, as will my Pilates’ class I do. I just hope the fast Covid test becomes more viable in the next few weeks so the family Christmas can be saved.
As Sir Tom says ‘ Tomorrow is a good day’

Be here soon, as the scientists are saying that the government strategy of tiers is not working.

Esspee

I believe it is inevitable here in the UK. Too many people riding roughshod over the rules, particularly the young who feel their right to party overrides other people's right to be protected from illness.

Not just the young. It’s kind of “understandable “ for the young to disobey rules. However there are plenty over 40 who are disobeying, eg parents at school gates, and even older people doing the “we’ve got to die sometime” nonsense.

sodapop

Not quite as severe as the first one but difficult enough. Busy now downloading forms so we can shop or go out for an hour's exercise.

I wouldn’t ever want the UK to become like this, having to download forms to be able to do basic shopping/exercise,
Emailing the mayor every time an owner has to tend to her animals and being stopped by the police all the time.
In any case, that approach hasn’t worked for France.No matter what approach any country takes they are all in the same boat.

Think the form filling is a more of a culture thing lemongrove paper work and bureaucracy is a way of life here.

I agree Grandmafrench that Macron is trying to appeal to the whole nation in what he calls "this war" against covid. The problem is there is trouble brewing in his tougher stance on radical Islam and I am not sure what effect that might have.

A lockdown slows the spread to prevent it overwhelming care / health services. If the Cabinet had been forward thinking they could have locked England down for 2 weeks to cover half term. It can provide a bit of respite . Sadly too many Brits are not community minded or care enough about other people. We have become a very selfish nation where the Blitz spirit is non- existant.

Miss Adventure wrote:

"They had very rigid lockdown the first time around.
I'm not sure if I'm making a point or not, but well.. it's worrying that they need a second one."

Does lockdown issue from the firebreaks principle?

Nothing much seems to work. I'm dreading the mass national migrations when students go home for Christmas then back to uni.

We are in total lockdown in Wales, partly to keep visitors out, sorry though I feel for businesses which rely on tourism I totally support this even though our numbers are lower than most of the UK. Best chance we have of stopping the hospitals being overwhelmed and keeping the cancer, heart and other treatments going

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Agree with Lucca, loads of 40 plus and 60/70’s tweaking rules to suit themselves and saying “ well I feel very comfy with what I’m doing “ no wonder we are in this mess !!

Lemongrove I wouldn’t want to the form filling stuff either but I honestly feel there has been no enforcement here from the
Police for example possibly because they haven’t been given the correct powers or from shops enforcing mask wearing fir similar reasons, I just feel those in power are too afraid to be unpopular if they take a strong stance.
Ive said it before much as I disliked her Thatcher Would have been a better leader in a pandemic.

Jillybird

I wish more noise would be made on UK national news about the strict measures taken in other countries. It might make some of the 'hoax squad' or the 'I'm so tough I can beat it if I get it group' realise how lucky and mild the restrictions are here... (and stop moaning!)

I agree.

We should be doing the same. What I don’t get is how it is safe for schools and non essential workplaces to stay open. Clearly some people are being thrown under the bus for the sake of the economy!

I agree with Espee, I don`t really have an opinion on France, or other countries, other than I wish our Government would at least look at other ways of dealing with this..

I think inevitable for the UK,, hopefully not before Christmas.

Thank you MawB2 for your kind wishes.
In our very quiet corner of southwest France we are pretty safe but everyone seems to follow the rules. Feel terribly sorry For all the small businesses who did such a good job to keep us safe.

Lucca I think police enforcement here has been very ineffective. It's almost as if they didn't care. Just a few tickings off, don't do it again. Where are the fines? It needs to be dealt with at ground level.
I have been stopped (for speeding) in France and remember quaking in my shoes as the armed policeman wrote out the instant fine. No argument.
Our police force may be over stretched, but it is also too woosy.

I live in France and having to complete a form each time we went out was indeed a pain. But we had a simple solution: fill in the form in ink but with the relevant date/time, etc in pencil then rub it out and use it again. No ink problems, saves a few trees and takes no time at all.

I agree with others that the police in this country did not enforce the lockdown, or now, the rules. I’m not talking about the guidelines, I’m talking about the legally enforceable rules. The problem is, I think, that the police are afraid of criticism, and it makes them unwilling to act. The police are not there to be our friends, they are there to enforce the law.

With the way Covid is spiralling out of control again, it does make you wonder if as first thought, that face masks are pretty useless.

I've seen some that absolutely are useless.

They're worn hanging off one ear, tucked neatly underneath the nose, or only put on if asked.

All those people who said that Germany had got it right and had prevented Covid-19 spreading, may wish to retract their criticism of our government. I wouldn’t want the job of anybody in charge at the moment.

I think the big difference this time is that schools are staying open. Children over 6 will have to wear masks. The problem in some secondary schools is that the canteen facilities are not adequate so I don't know how that will work either. They are in school for a very long day here.
We have just been to our tea shop to stock up and town was very busy. Coming home, it felt strange to think that it would be our last trip out together in the car for some time.
The one thing you do feel here is that the rules are very clear.

There's a photo of Corbyn today wearing his face mask beneath his nose. Sigh.