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Deconfinement in France: What is allowed from May 11

The French government has published more information on what will and will not be permitted as deconfinement is gradually rolled out - including for travel, socialising, shopping, exercising and schools.

Tables have been published online to include a number of locations and situations, to explain what will and will not be allowed from May 11 onwards, depending on the “colour” of your department.

A new government map - updated daily - gives each department a colour from green (lower level of virus) to orange and to red. The map shown on May 7 will only feature red and green for departments and will be the definitive map used to shape how deconfinement measures will be rolled out in each department.

Factors include how many new suspected cases there have been involving people visiting emergency units, and how stretched the hospitals are, including how many intensive care beds are available in the department.

Read more: First green / red Covid-19 map of France revealed

Read more: Covid-19: The May 1 deconfinement map of France

Read more: Deconfinement in France: What is reopening when?

The tables come as the government announced on Saturday (May 2) that it wants to extend the state of health emergency, and gave more details on what deconfinement would mean.

The full table (zoom in to read) can be seen on the French government website, gouvernement.fr, here (opens an image, in French).

 
Social life and activities

Permitted / open for all from May 11, regardless of department colour

Forests, cemeteries, funerals (of fewer than 20 people), libraries, small media/cultural centres, and small museums. Social distancing and barrier methods will still be necessary.

Churches and religious centres (but no ceremonies or events allowed, except funerals with fewer than 20 people).

Permitted / open from May 11 for “green” departments only

Public parks and public gardens

Not permitted / not open from May 11 - further updates to come at the end of May

Holiday camps, weddings and ceremonies (except in an urgent situation), groups of more than 10 people. Cinemas, theatres, large museums, beaches, lakes, sports halls, events spaces.

Not permitted / open until August 31

Events of more than 5,000 people.

 

Travel

Permitted from May 11, regardless of department colour

Public spaces, public transport. Wearing a mask is obligatory, and social distancing measures must continue to be respected.

Not permitted from May 11 anywhere, with further updates to come at the end of May

Journeys more than 100km away from your home, except for imperative family or professional reasons, for which you will need to carry a new attestation form.

Read more: Reasons for 100km plus travel in France after May 11

 

Public transport

Permitted / open from May 11, regardless of department colour

Urban public transport. Social distancing must continue. At peak times, priority will be given to people commuting to work that cannot be done at home, school journeys, and travel for medical reasons. All users must wear a mask at all times.

Taxis / VTC (ride-sharing apps such as Uber). Both passenger and driver must wear a mask at all times "in the absence of driver-passenger protection".

Not permitted from May 11 anywhere

Travel for journeys of more than 100km from home - in any form of transport, including trains, taxis, VTCs, and planes - except for imperative family or professional reasons, for which you will need to carry a new attestation form.

Read more: France sets €135 fine for no mask on public transport

 

Shopping

Permitted/open from May 11, regardless of department colour

Shops and commercial centres with a surface area of less than 40,000m2. Open-air markets (except where closed by local authorities). Hairdressers, barber shops and beauty salons, as long as health and safety guidelines are followed.

Not permitted/open from May 11, with further updates to come at the end of May

Commercial centres of more than 40,000m2. Bars, cafés and restaurants.

Sports

Permitted/open from May 11, regardless of department colour

Individual outdoor sports. Social distancing rules must be respected.

Not permitted/open from May 11, with further updates to come at the end of May

Individual indoor sports, such as swimming or gyms. Group sports or contact sports.

Not permitted/open until the end of the 2020 season

Professional group sports.

Read more: France tempts people back on to bikes after lockdown

Schools and crèches

Permitted/open from May 11, regardless of department colour

Crèches, with a limit of 10 children per group. Primary schools and maternelle classes, with a cap of 15 children per class. Masks will be required for staff.

Permitted/open after May 11 for “green” departments only. Varying dates depending on department

Collèges (middle school) starting with sixième (age 11) and cinquième (age 12). A limit of 15 pupils per class. Masks must be worn.

Not permitted/open anywhere after May 11, with further updates to come at the end of May, reopening expected for the beginning of June

Lycées (high school), starting with professional lycées first.

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