France, like many parts of the world, is seeing a resurgence of cases of Covid-19 as the cooler weather of l’automne (autumn) settles in. In an attempt to get things back under control and to avoid another confinement, the French government has instituted un couvre-feu in many cities around the country.

Couvre-feu

Le couvre-feu (lit. cover fire) or curfew¹The English word curfew actually comes to us from Old French via the Middle English curfeu., applies to Ile-de-France and 8 other metropolitan regions²Grenoble, Lille, Lyon, Aix-Marseille, Saint-Etienne, Rouen, Montpellier, et Toulouse. A compter du 16 octobre 2020 à minuit (Beginning at midnight on October 16, 2020), and planned for une duree minimale de 4 semaines (a minimum duration of 4 weeks), residents of the regions concerned are expected to be in their homes each night between 21h et 6h (9:00 PM and 6:00 AM)³Remember France like many countries around the world uses the 24-hour military clock.

While these measures are necessary, shutting down a country even if it’s just temporary is never easy, impacting businesses and people’s lives. Still, judging from this video from FranceInfo the first few days are going ok (or click here for another video on the same topic). Theater performances end early and people are leaving restaurants earlier than ever in a country where the evening often doesn’t get going until late.

At the same time, “les mesures suivantes s’appliquent désormais partout en France:” (the following measures are in force everywhere in France:)

• pas de rassemblement à plus de 6 dans l’espace public (no gatherings of more than 6 people in public spaces),
• interdiction de rassemblement privés (ban on private functions),
• protocole sanitaire renforcée dans les restaurants (enhanced sanitary measures in restaurants),
• renforcement du télétravail: 2 à 3 jours minimum (reinforced remote/home work: 2 to 3 days minimum).

I’m sure that, que ce soit en France ou ailleurs (whether in France or elsewhere), we all hope these and other measures will not be needed ere long. But as long as they are, hopefully we can all continue to do our part!

Photo by Ian Panelo from Pexels

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  The English word curfew actually comes to us from Old French via the Middle English curfeu.
• 2
  Grenoble, Lille, Lyon, Aix-Marseille, Saint-Etienne, Rouen, Montpellier, et Toulouse
• 3
  Remember France like many countries around the world uses the 24-hour military clock.
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  The French se rendre / to deliver oneself to gives us the English word surrender.