lockdown

Confined to his apartment by the lockdown measures to contain the Covid-19 virus epidemic, Elisha Nochomovitz completed the distance of a marathon by running backwards and forwards about 6,000 times on his seven-metre-long balcony in Toulouse, southern France, over a period of six hours and 48 minutes.

Following the closure of all fenced parks in Paris, the authorities have now closed green spaces in central Paris and also walkways along the River Seine, citing a lack of observance of the lockdown measures aimed at slowing the spread of the coronavirus epidemic, while the Rivierra city of Nice has closed its celebrated seafront Promenade des Anglais amid rumours of impending curfew measures.

An exodus from Paris of the wealthy with second homes or those with provincial families to welcome them, hoping to enjoy greener environments with which to live out the nationwide home confinement order issued to contain the spread of the coronavirus, is causing concern in some relatively unaffected regions that the fleeing Parisians are bringing the virus with them. 

As of midday on Tuesday, and initially announced for 15 days although few expect it to lend before May at least, the French capital, like the rest of the country, was placed under official lockdown in an effort to contain the coronavirus epidemic, with the population confined to their homes except for only essential movement outdoors. 

French interior minister Christophe Castaner on Monday evening provided further details on the nationwide lockdown of the population announced earlier by President Emmanuel Macron, adding that 100,000 police officers would be deployed to ensure the public only left their homes for reasons that should be justified by a written statement, downloaded from an official website and signed, or face a fine of up to 135 euros. 

In a televised address on Monday evening French President Emmanuel Macron announced a lockdown of the population, initially for a 15-day period, restricting all but non-essential movements of people outside of their homes in an effort to contain the Covid-19 coronvitrus outbeak, while also postponing the second round of municipal elections due next weekend. 

French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe announced on Saturday the nationwide closure from midnight of entertainment venues, shops, cafés and restaurants in an effort to contain the accelerating spread of the coronavirus outbreak, essentiually exempting food stores, pharmacies and petrol stations.