【STAY HOME] City Blockade. Urgent report on the current situation in Paris, which is different from that of Tokyo.

On April 7, a state of emergency was declared in Tokyo and other metropolitan areas of Japan. The number of people infected with the new coronavirus continues to rise, life is restricted, and the economy is beginning to paralyze. In the midst of this situation, the Huinamu editorial staff has also experienced unprecedented circumstances, such as having to forgo planned interviews, refrain from filming, and postpone events. Originally, we had planned to go to Paris Men's Fashion Week in June, as we often travel around the world for coverage. However, Paris is now on lockdown and the event itself has been canceled. What kind of life do people lead in a city with such deep ties to fashion? When we tried to find out, we found that the situation is quite different from that of Tokyo. We asked local writer Keiko Kakuno to report on the current situation.

How to get around the curfew? Paris a month later, as seen through telephone interviews.

The new coronavirus has now taken a tremendous toll on countries around the world. The French newspaper Le Monde reported that as of March 24, 175 countries were under curfew. This means that more than half of the world's population is staying at home.

In France, restrictions on going out began at noon on March 17, and people have been allowed to go out "only the minimum necessary" for about a month. The minimum necessary includes (1) shopping for groceries, (2) hospital visits, (3) jogging or walking the dog, (4) transportation for family members who need help, and (5) commuting if telework is not possible. Violators will be fined 135 euros (about 16,000 yen). When you hear this, you may think, "It's impossible to suddenly lose your normal life one day. However, the French people seem to understand that this is a last resort that could not be avoided as a result of the failure of the measures taken against the new coronavirus that began in January. Prior to the curfew, restaurants and movie theaters were closed on March 15, school closures and telework began nationwide on March 16, and at noon on March 17, all stores closed their doors and people went into curfew. It was strangely smooth. There was no social chaos.

How did each of them respond? We asked Elodie Berta, who works for the Paris Convention and Visitors Bureau.

I've been teleworking for a while now. My colleagues with children seem to work at exactly the same rhythm as normal working hours, but I, who live alone, start slowly and work until quite late. Right now I am mainly in charge of assigning hotels in Paris that are closed to medical personnel and hospitals. I am busy every day. I don't have to worry about my income because I keep working like this."

When you hear the word "outing restriction," you may imagine a state of inability to do anything. However, the other day, he dared to take a paid vacation. It seemed that he was working so intensively that he felt the need to take a break.

Some supermarkets have placed disinfectant gels at the entrances and require their use. The cashier's staff is considered "front-line fighters for the people" and will receive a bonus of 1,000 euros (about 120,000 yen) from the government.

The bakery has placed an obstacle in front of the case to keep a safe distance, and the area around the cash register is protected with plastic. Only two people are allowed inside the store. Outside, customers line up, keeping a safe distance.

As a minimum, food stores, pharmacies, banks, post offices, and tobacco shops are allowed to operate. Other occupations that allow telework, like Elodie's, continue to work from home.

For those who cannot telework, for example, restaurant owners, there is a flat subsidy of 1,500 euros (about ¥180,000) per restaurant, and social security (taxes), rent, and utilities payments can be postponed. It was also made clear early on that loan repayment would be six months in advance, and that if borrowing was necessary, only a simple procedure would be required. Temporary unemployment benefits (80-100 percent) will be provided to employees.

The French government is providing these compensations, as President Macron has publicly stated, "in order to restart economic activities as soon as the curfew is lifted. This will not be possible without securing jobs and protecting stores and businesses from bankruptcy. We will protect all French citizens. We will not leave anyone behind." The president's words were filled with strength as he looked straight at us.

People wait outside at a safe distance. The number of people allowed inside the restaurant is limited to two. The number of people allowed in the store is determined by the area of the store. Tobacco shops are allowed to operate as a minimum requirement because they also sell newspapers, magazines, revenue stamps, etc.

A wine store owner serving customers wearing a mask and gloves. According to a French media survey, 45 percent of those who have been unable to work since the curfew have been unable to work.

Some people have been forced to switch to teleworking halfway through their careers, in accordance with company policy. This is Tatsuya Uchida, a modeler (patterner) for "The Kooples.

'We were fortunate that we were just in a process that could be handled by the PC. But after this is done, we can't do anything without samples, and we need to do fittings. We may have to use bike delivery and work with other staff members as we go along."

It is not easy to continue the work done in the atelier through telework. Nevertheless, there is still new work ahead of him beyond the work at hand; the cancellation of Men's Fashion Week in June has not had any impact at this time, and there is no prospect of a decrease in Uchida's work.

The company's upper management may be concerned about the future, and I sometimes think about the company's strength, but creators like us are always working a year ahead of time. But creators like us are always working a year ahead. We don't have time to stand still.

Even though teleworking is inconvenient, the way they are coping with the current situation through ingenuity shows their active motivation.

The florist was no longer considered a minimum requirement and could no longer stay in business. So the store turned into a grocery store selling organic vegetables! It is now a popular store.

Many people are spending more time at home and are more devoted to cooking and baking, and exchanging recipes on social networking sites is becoming a popular trend.

Avoid a situation where a tsunami of infected people floods the hospital at once. Keep the number of infected people low so that they can be treated in the hospital. This is the purpose of restricting the outbreak. However, as of April 12, the number of victims in France is 14,393. Even with the curfew restrictions, the damage caused by the new coronavirus has ballooned to such a large number. The medical situation has been tense from the early stage, and President Macron even promised to set up a field hospital as of his speech on March 16. Shortages of test kits, doctors and nurses, and ventilators are occurring as in other countries. This is the reality of the new coronavirus in France.

At the same time, the government has taken clear measures and provided sufficient explanations as necessary, and the people continue to be active even in the midst of strict restrictions on going out. This is also the reality in France. At the moment, everything except masks is available as usual. Going out is allowed only within 1 km from one's home, and jogging is also allowed within the same limits, for one hour per day, and only outside the hours of 10:00 to 19:00.

The curfew will end on May 11, President Macron announced in a televised speech on April 13 at 8:00 p.m. The curfew, which will last a total of eight weeks, is expected to be lifted in stages. The curfew, which will last a total of eight weeks, will be lifted in phases. In the first phase, schools, factories, and commercial establishments will reopen, while restaurants, hotels, cinemas, and events will wait for the next phase. While promising unchanged compensation for the period until then, the speech included expanded inspections after the lifting of the ban, distribution of masks, and tracking of infections using an app. We have to fight a long battle," he said, noting that the situation could lead to another round of curfews.

President Macron's policy of creating new values and a better society after France's experience with the new coronavirus reflects the thoughts of many French people. To realize this, people are now living with restrictions on going out while adhering to strict regulations.

Photo & Text_Keiko Sumino-Leblanc