The health crisis linked to the coronavirus has had a severe impact on the town of Annecy since the beginning of 2020. Several decisions such as the confinement and the curfew allow to limit the effects.
In progress
Since 3 May 2021, the decontainment planned by the government is underway according to a precise schedule that runs until 30 June 2021. It will depend on the evolution of the health situation. In case of deterioration, territorial adaptations will be put in place.
The coronavirus health crisis
The Covid-19 virus was spotted in our country at the beginning of 2020. It originated in the Chinese province of Wuhan. This disease is highly contagious and causes the following symptoms: cough, fever, loss of smell and taste in its less severe forms. However, some patients develop a severe form of the disease which can lead to them being admitted to hospital for resuscitation. Death may then occur in some cases. These patients often have co-morbidities such as heart failure, diabetes and hypertension. Age is also a risk factor, with patients over 75 years of age being at greater risk of a severe form of Covid-19.
Containment from 3 April 2021 to 2 May 2021
In his televised address on 31 March 2021, the President of the Republic announced that France would enter a third containment period from 3 April 2021 to 2 May 2021. Haute-Savoie and therefore the city of Annecy was already under reinforced surveillance. This measure implies a ban on non-food markets, flea markets and garage sales. In addition, the consumption of alcohol is prohibited in public areas. The prefect of Haute-Savoie has also just banned the broadcasting of amplified music in the public space. Gatherings of more than 6 people are also prohibited.
This new containment is based on the following measures:
- On the level of schooling: On 5 April, one week of lessons at home for schools, colleges and high schools. On 12 April, 2 weeks of holidays for the 3 school zones. On 26 April, back to school for kindergartens and primary schools. Classes at home for secondary schools and high schools. On 3 May, resumption of face-to-face classes for collèges and lycées.
- In terms of travel: Curfew from 7 pm to 6 am. Inter-regional travel and travel beyond 10 km from home is prohibited except for compelling reasons. Generate on the website of the Ministry of the Interior your compulsory exit certificate by specifying your identity, your address, the time and the compelling reason. The certificate is not required for travel within 10 km of your home. The Easter weekend is not affected by these restrictions. The Prime Minister is expected to announce the end of the ban on travelling more than 10 km from home from 3 May 2021.
- Shops: From midnight on Saturday 3 April, 150,000 shops will be closed.
The only shops that are allowed to open are the following bakeries and confectioners, computer and telecommunications equipment sellers and repairers, tobacco shops and electronic cigarette sellers, banks and insurance companies, funeral services, laundries, fabric shops, book and record shops, newspaper and stationery sellers, hairdressers, opticians, pharmacies, medical and orthopaedic goods sellers, florists and garden centres, shoe repair shops chocolate shops, car dealerships by appointment, property inspections, car garages, bicycle dealers and repairers, car rental companies, petrol stations, DIY and hardware shops, mini-markets, supermarkets and hypermarkets, frozen food shops, fruit and vegetable shops, pet shops, agricultural supplies shops, butchers and delicatessens, childcare shops over 400 m² and fish shops. Shopping centres of more than 10,000 m² remain closed, except for food shops, public services and pharmacies. Click and collect is not allowed in shopping malls. - At the level of companies: All the measures that support economic actors and their employees remain in force. Teleworking must be systematised.
Curfew shifted to 7 pm from 20 March 2021
On 18 March 2021, Prime Minister Jean Castex announced the confinement of several French regions, including the Île-de-France and the Alpes-Maritimes. In total, 16 departments are concerned. Haute-Savoie is not affected. But the changeover to summer time has led the government to modify the starting time of the curfew. It starts at 7pm and ends at 6am from Saturday 20 March 2021.
Curfew brought forward to 6pm from 16 January 2021
After the end of the year celebrations, the indicators measuring the level of the coronavirus pandemic in France started to deteriorate, particularly in the Grand Est of France. 15 departments had seen the curfew brought forward to 6 pm. Since the beginning of the year, the rate of positivity of the tests progresses quickly and especially the rate of incidence exceeds locally the 200 cases per 100 000 inhabitants. This is the criterion used by the government to bring forward the time of confinement. It was 225 in Haute-Savoie on 10 January.
Following Jean Castex’s declarations of 7 January 2021, 10 new departments were concerned by the extension of the curfew to 6pm from Sunday 10 January. Haute-Savoie was to be one of them. The government asked the Haute-Savoie prefecture to organise a consultation meeting with elected representatives to evaluate this possibility. However, even if the government wanted the curfew to be brought forward to 6pm, the elected representatives did not want to hear it that way. After a day of waiting on the part of the population, no measure was finally adopted at the end of the day and the curfew remained unchanged, but until when?
The Prime Minister spoke on 14 January because of the deteriorating health conditions. An extended curfew from 6pm to 6am is introduced from Saturday 16 January 2021 in Annecy as in the whole of France.
History of confinements and curfews in Annecy
Since the beginning of the pandemic, strict measures to reduce the movement of people have been taken in France to limit interactions and therefore the spread of the coronavirus. Confinement is the strictest measure. It prohibits going out beyond a restricted perimeter, and non-essential businesses are closed. The curfew prohibits the movement of people between certain hours, the businesses are closed at these hours.
Confinements
- First lockdown from 17 March to 10 May 2020,
- Second lockdown from 30 October to 14 December 2020,
- Third lockdown from 3 April 2021 to 2 May 2021.
Curfews
- First curfew from 17 October to 29 October 2020 from 9 pm to 5 am.
- Second curfew from 15 December 2020 to 15 January 2020 from 8pm to 6am. The start of the curfew is brought forward to 18:00 from Saturday 16 January 2021. The curfew is shifted to 19:00 from Saturday 20 March to take account of the changeover to summer time. The second curfew is extended during the third lockdown. The curfew is shifted to 11pm on 9 June and then lifted on 20 June 2021.
The timetable for the decontamination
This timetable is divided into four stages:
Monday 3 May 2021:
- Maintenance of curfew and teleworking,
- Status quo on businesses
- Reopening of secondary schools with a half-gauge for 4th and 3rd grade in the 15 departments where the virus is circulating more intensely
- Reopening of high schools with half classes
- End of attestation for daytime travel
Wednesday 19 May 2021:
- Reopening of outdoor and indoor sports facilities for spectators (800 indoors, 1000 outdoors),
- Resumption of sports activities in indoor and outdoor venues with adapted protocols,
- Gatherings of more than 10 people prohibited,
- Curfew shifted to 9pm,
- Maintenance of teleworking,
- Reopening of all shops,
- Reopening of restaurant and bar terraces, table for 6 people maximum,
- Reopening of museums, monuments, cinemas, theatres, theatres with a seated audience (800 people inside, 1000 people outside).
Wednesday 9 June 2021:
- Reopening of sports halls with extension of sports practice to outdoor contact and non-contact indoor sports,
- Reopening of the trade fairs and exhibitions, with a capacity of up to 5,000 people (with a health pass),
- Reception of tourists from abroad (with health pass),
- The curfew is shifted to 23 hours,
- Relaxation of teleworking,
- Reopening of cafés and restaurants with tables for up to six people,
- Possibility to welcome up to 5,000 people in cultural and sports venues (with health pass).
Thursday 17 June 2021:
- Masks are no longer required to be worn outdoors, but are still required when more than 10 people are gathered together, in markets and in the stands of a stadium and in “crowded” places.
Sunday 20 June 2021:
- Abolition of the curfew.
Wednesday 30 June 2021:
- Access to events with more than 1,000 people outdoors and indoors (with health pass),
- Discotheques remain closed,
- End of the limits of gauge according to the local health situation in establishments receiving the public with the maintenance of barrier gestures and social distancing.
