Non-Lockdown Lockdown #3

After 55 days last year at this time, and a semi-lockdown from October 28 to December 1st, we're now entering lockdown #3. Or non-lockdown. We're not supposed to call it lockdown anymore because people get stressed out and depressed, so now we call it "stricter measures," which apply in 16 departments where the pandemic is the worst at the moment, including ours:

The stricter measures last for the next four weeks, and are hard to understand - schools are open, but high schools are split in half, with students attending in-person every other week - as Benjamin has been doing since mid-November already, so no change for him there. Preschools, elementary schools, and middle schools are still open as normal, with children ages 6 and up wearing masks.

This time, the first pass came out with fifteen allowable reasons to be out (compared to six during the first lockdown last year) and varying distances - 10 km for some reasons, 30 km for others, no limit for others. No more time limits, compared to the hour for physical activity during lockdown #1. 

People complained that this pass and these rules were confusing, so the government promptly created a new pass, this time with twelve reasons... but we don't need a pass if we go out within 10 km of our homes, between 6 am and 7 pm. In that case, we only need proof of where we live (ID card, driver's license, bill with our name on it...). None of us are sure it is any less confusing than the original.

Some types of stores are closed, like clothing stores or toy stores, but others remain open - grocery stores, bookstores, florists, chocolate shops! 

Current allowable reasons to be out are:

Within 10 km:

• Physical activity

Within one's own department, or up to 30 km in another department if you live near a border:

• Shopping
• Taking children to school
• Going to the library or church
• Administrative procedures

Without distance limits:

• Going to work, teaching, or working for the public good
• Healthcare
• Family reasons: helping vulnerable or elderly family members, or childcare
• Reasons related to being handicapped or helping a handicapped person
• Judicial or administrative convocation
• Moving
• Going to a train station or airport

These measures are in effect for four weeks. 

Fortunately, we are 8.2 km from Noah's middle school and 9.3 from Benjamin's high school, so no pass needed to take them or pick them up.