- Title: It's April in Paris, but French told to stay indoors
- Date: 5th April 2020
- Summary: PARIS, FRANCE (APRIL 5, 2020) (REUTERS) PEOPLE WALKING ALONG LA VILLETTE BASIN IN NORTHERN PARIS WOMAN LOOKING OUT TO CANAL VARIOUS OF LA VILLETTE BASIN FLOWERS DRONE FLYING, WITH VOICE SAYING PEOPLE MUST STAY HOME PEOPLE WALKING ALONG LA VILLETTE BASIN
- Embargoed: 19th April 2020 16:49
- Keywords: COVID-19 Paris in lockdown confinement coronavirus discipline lockdown outdoors spring
- Location: PARIS AND MULHOUSE, FRANCE
- City: PARIS AND MULHOUSE, FRANCE
- Country: France
- Topics: Science
- Reuters ID: LVA001C87SUH3
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Parisians have been warned not to succumb to the tempting sunny spring weather and to remain indoors to help fight the spread of the coronavirus that has killed 7,560 in France.
France, like other countries, has confined its residents to home since March 17 to curb the spread of the virus. The measures have been extended until April 15, and are likely to be extended again.
Several guests on Sunday televisions shows, including doctors, were alarmed by images of many Parisians out and about along the banks of the river Seine and on car-less streets and sidewalks, jogging, strolling and enjoying the sunny weather.
"When we see some of these images, when we see some of these attitudes, it is true that it is totally incomprehensible," Jean Rottner, ex-emergency doctor and head of the Grand Est region, where the outbreak first took hold, said on BFM TV.
The situation is still too serious in Paris to start thinking of lifting the confinement, Rottner's counterpart Valerie Pecresse, head of the greater Paris region, said on the same channel.
"Even if it is the holidays and the weather is nice, don't be tempted. Stay at home as much as possible," she said. "Our health system is saturated, nothing would be worse than a semi-confinement."
Parisians strolling along a park and a canal in northern Paris said they were following confinement rules, which require people to carry certificates attesting that they are out for only a one-hour jog or grocery run.
"I think it's good to remind us to be careful, to not give in so easily to this nice weather," said Parisian Arnaud Canivez, who was on his one-hour outing near the La Villette Basin.
Overhead, a computerised voice from a drone reminded people to stay home.
The director general of France's health ministry Jerome Salomon said in a daily briefing on Saturday (April 4) that 566 patients have been moved across various regions of France to ease the pressure on areas that have been badly hit by the outbreak.
France had a total of 89,953 confirmed or suspected cases in hospitals and nursing homes as of Saturday, according to health ministry data.
(Production: Noemie Olive, Michaela Cabrera) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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