His address was highly anticipated by the French as coronavirus keeps on spreading across the country. This Tuesday November 24, 2020, Emmanuel Macron explained measures to come for the Holidays and beyond. And among them, the reinstatement of a curfew starting December 15 from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m., expected to be lifted on January 20, as Jean Castex announced this Thursday November 26 during his press brief.
But the health situation did not improve and has forced the French government to withdraw. This Thursday December 10, measures have been toughened up. Therefore, curfew will be instated from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. instead of 9 p.m.-7a.m., the exemption for New Year's Eve has been canceled and curfew will be on that night, unlike Christmas Eve.
Starting December 15, will it be possible to travel past 8 p.m.? Like back to mid-October, when the first curfew was implemented in main cities, exemptions will be provided especially for those going to work in the evening or night. Therefore, the famous derogatory trip certificate will be required and be downloaded or printed out. Derogatory or professional trip certificates are soon to be available here.
Please also note that for people who need to go out for a pressing family matter, general interest tasks, for health reason or to walk their pets, derogatory trip certificate will be required in the event of a control. For other kinds of trips, like grocery shopping or else, you will have to be back home before 8 p.m. Any offender or any person breaking the curfew will have to pay a €135 fine, and no exemption will be possible.
Curfew was already implemented back to October 14, during an interviews with journalists Anne-Sophie Lapix and Gilles Bouleau respectively for France 2 and TF1. Emmanuel Macron then said: "there is no ban of moving around between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m., but a strict limitation. [...] We shall still be able to go to work in all sectors. For those who have emergencies, health emergencies for instance, there will be authorizations".
Furthermore, Secretary of the Interior Gérald Darmanin said "the certificate is worth for one hour when you are out and it has nothing to see with your job". In case the curfew is not respected, sanctions are planned, including "a 135-euro fine" the president stated. In case of a repeat offence, the fine will go up to "1,500 euros", he said.
