Since Tuesday March 17th, France is locked down to try and limit the propagation of the coronavirus epidemic. While the confinement could be extended as demanded by the medical worlld, The City of Paris unveils new measures to shore up the impact on this fight against the epidemic.
Among them, the closure of parks and gardens in Paris, as well as the banned access to the Seine riverbanks, the Esplanade des Invalides pitches and the Champ-de-Mars.
Another measure taken by the City of Paris, residential parking will be free to encourage people to stay and work from home or keep their children home. Parking on streets in Paris will be also free of charge, “in order to allow all people working to manage the crisis to park close to their workplaces and make home visits easier”.
Last but not least, the City of Paris is said to give 500,000 face masks to doctors, nurses and caregivers in Paris to guarantee their protection and their patients’.
Monday March 23rd, the City of Paris announces new measures such as free Vélib bikes for the hospital staff. This measures completes free daycares and parking for health caregivers.
As for food markets, the City of Paris let us know that "the organization set up (separation from the stands, marking on the floor, instruction memo) enable to drastically increase the application of the health instructions, but in the quick expansion phase of the epidemic in the Parisian region, the situation remains worrisome at some markets". The City of Paris will ask the Police Prefect to "assess all updated risks" and decree from March 24th, if necessary, to shut down all problematic markets.
Moreover, the City of Paris has announced to stop all work sites they have been ordered, excluding those working on public security.
Last but not least, as for food aid, the City of Paris opens - in partnership with the State and the Aurore charity - five new spots to give 4000 individual meal packets: Barbès (18th arrondissement), Carreau du Temple (3rd), Grands Voisins (14th), Quai d'Austerlitz (13th), Halte Humanitaire Porte de la Chapelle (18th).