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Medicine

France Orders People To Stay At Home For 15 Days Due To Pandemic (cnbc.com) 70

Willy English shares a report from CNBC: The president of France on Monday said he was ordering people in the country to stay at home for up to 15 days because of the coronavirus outbreak. President Emmanuel Macron said people should leave their homes only for essential duties, beginning midday Tuesday. Macron said he was taking the drastic step of limiting people's movements in France to reduce the risk of contamination from the virus. He said any violation of the edict would be punished. Macron also announced he was calling off the second round of municipal elections in light of his order. Macron's announcement came as Canada's leader, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, announced that he was closing the country's borders to foreigners, with the exception of U.S. citizens.
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France Orders People To Stay At Home For 15 Days Due To Pandemic

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  • by Anonymous Coward

    In Italy's case, the 15 day lockdown makes some sense because of the overrun system. However, it seems this just delays the inevitable, as opposed to social distancing which slows the spread over time.

    I hope France knows what it is doing in this case, because this isn't really going to help things.

    • You have to keep in mind that the disease has a builtin delay. There is a delay before you show symptoms. And there is a delay before the symptoms become bad enough that some people need to be hospitalized. So if you believe that your healthcare system is going to be overrun, you have to make those tough decisions well in advance.

      And this gets compounded if you have a backlog with your testing. This too will grind your healthcare to a halt if you can't determine within a reasonable timeframe who is infected

    • Comment removed (Score:5, Insightful)

      by account_deleted ( 4530225 ) on Monday March 16, 2020 @06:38PM (#59837952)
      Comment removed based on user account deletion
    • by AHuxley ( 892839 )
      Its stops people who are not sick getting sick.
      It stops sick people from wondering around making people sick.

      People who can spread wuflu may not feel sick but they can spread the infection for days.
      Keep them out of the community and less people get sick.
      That reduces the flow of people into hospital for days and over weeks.
      Less people need ICU beds. The ICU beds in use can slowly help people recover.
      Less sick people, less need day to day for ICU beds.
      No nation wants to fail the way Italy and natio
    • by GuB-42 ( 2483988 )

      The French government encouraged social distancing, it didn't work, so they ordered it more firmly.
      Sunday, large groups of people were seen enjoying the nice weather in Paris, and when some venue was closed or an event was cancelled, they just met elsewhere.

      It is not a total lockdown, work don't stop but you need to justify it can't do it from home, you can still go grocery shopping, you can still exercise outside as long as you are alone... It is a strong reminder of what "social distancing" means.

      As a Fre

  • Here in America if you tried this you'd have riots. Businesses won't pay for workers not to work. Workers are living paycheck to paycheck and can't make rent without next weeks pay. The gov't could give out some money, but how? Who's going to pay for it? Where's the money going to come from?
    • Re:How? (Score:5, Informative)

      by DRJlaw ( 946416 ) on Monday March 16, 2020 @05:54PM (#59837738)

      Here in America if you tried this you'd have riots. Businesses won't pay for workers not to work. Workers are living paycheck to paycheck and can't make rent without next weeks pay.

      Time to test your predictive power [latimes.com]. Because it's happening in the Bay.

      • You realize the Bay area is the most left leaning area ever because they have money to spare, right? Good luck on red states
        • You realize the Bay area is the most left leaning area ever because they have money to spare, right?

          Good luck on red states

          Darwin gets the last laugh then.

          • by rtb61 ( 674572 )

            Ijiot, they are not trying to prevent the spread of the contagion, merely slow it down. It is endemic now, a part of our living environment, you will get it, from showing no symptoms (having no affect on you as your immune system fights it off with barely a reaction) to a mild flu to death. In fact they are doing more economic and social harm with crashing their economy then by allowing it to run it's natural course.

            The problem is capitalism crippled emergency services to maximise profits to the point wher

            • I'm far less worried about people dying at home fearful of going to the hospital than of the hospitals having no vacancy signs on the doors.

              Yes, eventually most people will get this. It will become just another regular childhood or seasonal illness. But right now, Italy is an example of "allowing it to run it's natural course." and it is an example most people agree we should not follow.

            • by Zak3056 ( 69287 )

              Ijiot, they are not trying to prevent the spread of the contagion, merely slow it down. It is endemic now, a part of our living environment, you will get it, from showing no symptoms (having no affect on you as your immune system fights it off with barely a reaction) to a mild flu to death. In fact they are doing more economic and social harm with crashing their economy then by allowing it to run it's natural course.

              You'er correct in that everyone is GOING to be exposed to this, but you seem to not understand that slowing it down is the goal. Look at Italy. They are doing triage in the literal sense of the word because their healthcare system is overrun. If you can slow it down, you can (hopefully) avoid that.

              The problem is capitalism crippled emergency services to maximise profits to the point where it is no longer capable of handling emergencies (having that spare capacity in the system to cope with emergencies cost fucking money and taxes have to pay for it and rich arse holes wanted their tax cuts because they have enough money to protect themselves in emergencies and fuck the rest of you).

              Horseshit. There is no economic system (capitalism, socialism, communism, feudalism, despotism, take your pick) that can support having a bunch of idle capacity sitting around doing nothing when it costs that d

      • This is happening in WA right now, plus Canada has closed the border.

        No riots yet.

    • You are not getting it, wartime laws. Did London ask "who will pay for it" when the bombs were dropping during the Blitz? It's the same deal.
      • by Anonymous Coward

        You are not getting it, wartime laws. Did London ask "who will pay for it" when the bombs were dropping during the Blitz? It's the same deal.

        Americans initially, but the Brits had to pay them back later.

    • Re:How? (Score:4, Interesting)

      by nagora ( 177841 ) on Monday March 16, 2020 @06:26PM (#59837898)

      Where's the money going to come from?

      Same place it did in 2008: future generations. All hail the national debt.

      This is why they spout on about inflation targets of 2% and more - they say it's good for the economy but mainly it's to burn the value of the debt. And your wage packet, of course, but they don't care about that too much.

    • Re: (Score:2, Flamebait)

      by thegarbz ( 1787294 )

      Businesses won't pay for workers not to work.

      Civilized nations have mandatory paid sick leave.

      Where's the money going to come from?

      Evil evil socialism. Americans wouldn't understand.

    • by AHuxley ( 892839 )
      City, state and a federal gov can do this if and when wanted.
    • Maybe read the page linked in your footer. ((shrugs))
    • by joh ( 27088 )

      The money will come from future profits after all of this will be over. And after all this will be over the countries that are still standing will make the profits and those who will be smoldering ruins will not. Going into deep debt and spending future money on surviving this situation as unscathed as possible is the only way to be one of the former countries instead of one of the latter.

      China is already recovering now. They pushed the virus back and while they still have to be careful they will be able to

  • are grocery stores going to be grab and go or who works there to sell the groceries the peasants maybe
  • by superdave80 ( 1226592 ) on Monday March 16, 2020 @05:53PM (#59837730)

    Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, announced that he was closing the country's borders to foreigners, with the exception of U.S. citizens.

    That makes no sense. US citizens are just as likely as anybody else to have the virus. And besides, Canada already has the virus in their country, so why ban traveling? This makes as much sense as the recent US ban on European travel.

    • by sjames ( 1099 )

      And besides, Canada already has the virus in their country, so why ban traveling?

      Because a number of places have far higher rates than Canada and less people get sick when they are exposed to less different people daily.

      • Because a number of places have far higher rates than Canada...

        Yes, like the United States.

        and less people get sick when they are exposed to less different people daily.

        Yes, like people from the United States

        Your post didn't really answer any of my questions.

        • by sjames ( 1099 )

          While the U.S. certainly is affected, it's mot to the degree of many other countries. It probably also has to do with the long border with the U.S. where many people cross in both directions for daily business.

          • This. Both the Canadians and the Americans have an interest in keeping their grocery stores stocked, and closing a 3000 mile long border wouldn't help that cause. I expect the U.S. and Canada will both start locking down non-essential movement shortly anyway, so it's not like hordes of citizens from either country are going to be flocking across the border any time soon.

    • by RedK ( 112790 )

      https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/#countries [worldometers.info]

      USA : 13.8/1M pop
      Canada : 11.2/1M pop.

      China's underreported numbers : 56.2/1M pop.
      Europe : hundreds / 1M pop.

      "Just as likely" you say.

      • That website is using some incomplete figures along with some seemingly inaccurate ones, in Italy's case both.
        - Nothing for "Tot Cases/1M pop"
        - "Total Recovered" barely exceeds "Total Deaths".
        In France's case 12 times as many people are supposed to have died compared to recovered, I suppose that could happen if it takes a day or three for someone to succumb but 12 days to be declared virus-free. In Belgium it is 10 dead and one recovered.

        I saw an obituary for "the youngest person to have died in the UK fro

        • by Zak3056 ( 69287 )

          - "Total Recovered" barely exceeds "Total Deaths".

          Why is that so hard to understand?

          1. N many people have contracted the virus
          2. M many people have died
          3. L many people have recovered

          N-M-L = People who are still sick and do not have a resolution.

    • by AHuxley ( 892839 )
      re 'That makes no sense.".
      Every person kept out is no a person who might be infected and spreading.
      Thats one less person wondering in the community spreading wuflu for days or longer.
      Before they finally get sick and might need hospital.
      They might get so sick they need ICU.
      Why should any nation look after the sick of another nation now?
      Every ICU bed will be needed for their own citizens. Sick, sick with other conditions, sick with wuflu.
      Re "so why ban traveling? "
      So sick people from one nation dont
      • Every person kept out is no a person who might be infected and spreading.

        OK, so why are the exempting US citizens?

        • by AHuxley ( 892839 )
          Re "OK, so why are the exempting US citizens?"
          Like so US people going to Canada for some reason?
          US gov/mil/contractors have to be on site in Canada?
          So US gov/mil/contractors can move around passing as normal people on a normal holiday during the full months of wuful?
          The maple syrup must flow.
    • The border between Canada and the United States is the longest non-militarized border in the world. In order to prevent entry into Canada from the US we would have to build a wall 8,891 km long (that is 5525 miles). That is THREE TIMES the length of the Mexico - US Border.

      Enforcing the border would require the posting of about 9 million armed soldiers, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. With a standard duty roster and normal shifts, providing full coverage would require about 50 million people. Not to menti

      • And yes, about 25% of the confirmed cases of COVID19 in Alberta are linked to travellers returning from the United States or to American's bringing their infections up here.

        Presumably the other 75% are linked to travel to/from other countries? Consider that something like 95% of the cross-border traffic in/out of Canada is with the U.S. So you've got 95% of traffic accounting for 25% of infections, and 5% accounting for 75% of infections. It's pretty clear which one is the priority to ban.

      • I have absolutely no idea what the point of your post was. Why are you calculating out a fully blockaded US/Canada border?
      • Canada needs to deploy bears as a reserve force, but don't forget the border to Alaska.

    • by AmiMoJo ( 196126 )

      Limiting people's movements has two benefits.

      1. It slows the spread of the virus.
      2. It stops them travelling around and panic buying all the toilet paper in Canada.

      Germany has recently closed some of its borders to all but essential travel for the same reasons.

      • I'm always amazed at the people that take time to reply to a post, but don't take the time to actually READ it. Yes, I know limiting travel reduces the spread of diseases. My questions is why the AREN'T limiting the movement of US citizens into their country. And nobody has really bother to answer it. Instead they just post completely unrelated things or obvious things. Why do you post a reply to a question if you don't actually have an answer?
    • "That makes no sense. US citizens are just as likely as anybody else to have the virus. "

      And they come stealing trees to make toilet paper.

  • by nospam007 ( 722110 ) * on Monday March 16, 2020 @05:57PM (#59837760)

    Unless you have to go out for a baguette, or walk the dog, or get cigarettes, or go for a walk, or ...

  • Said the president before formally surrendering to the virus on the condition that all the nice beaches in the south could remain semi-autonomous.

    "Vive la France," he called from the steps of his private jet.

  • Dumb decision (Score:2, Insightful)

    by spyfrog ( 552673 )
    A dumb decision. The virus is still ramping up. This is not the time for this. What will France do in two weeks when things have not improved? Continue the isolation? This is a move that should be used when you believe infections has begin to peek and your healthcare system is overwhelmed. None of this applies to France today. The only thing this gives France is massive problems with companies going out of business
    • I don't agree with many aspects of the decision, but your arguments actually provide a justification for it.
      Let's say the average incubation time between infection and the virus actually breaking out is 7 days (just a number, it could be 5 or 15 for all I know) and people need to be hospitalised for another week (another number taken at random). You then have to act 14 days before the medical services reach capacity.
      Italy did not, they had no beds or ventilators left and new cases were still streaming in.

    • Re:Dumb decision (Score:5, Insightful)

      by joh ( 27088 ) on Tuesday March 17, 2020 @05:05AM (#59839434)

      The load on the health systems lags infections by a week or more. If you start to try and curb the infections only when your hospitals are already bursting there will still come ten times as many ill and severely ill patients a week later. The longer you wait the harder it gets.

    • A dumb decision.

      Health experts around the world disagree with that and suggest that temporarily shutting countries down and implementing such social distancing is the single best way to prevent the healthsystem from being overrun.

      The virus is still ramping up. This is not the time for this.

      This shows that you have no idea what this policy is hoping to achieve or how to minimise the spread of a virus.

      What will France do in two weeks when things have not improved? Continue the isolation?

      Probably. I mean most of the rest of Europe has decided to implement a similar policy but for 4 weeks instead of 2. Isolation is not that difficult. Greetings from the home office. My wi

    • This is a move that should be used when you believe infections has begin to peek and your healthcare system is overwhelmed. None of this applies to France today.

      Actually it currently applies, with a shortage of ICU beds and ventilators in the "cluster" zones (>95% of total capacity already in use in Alsace, Haut-Rhin has no capacity left). The result is that the army is now deploying a campaign hospital in Alsace and will start moving intensive care patients to areas that aren't yet infected. Right now, around 6% of confirmed cases in France require ICU/ventilators to survive.

      The high death rate in Italy comes from having more critical cases than ICU/ventilators

  • This is not a suggestion. https://coronavirus.marinhhs.o... [marinhhs.org]. Its an order. If you read this FAQ which amounts to some sort of fascist version of Jeopardy where you can guess which "rights" you may still have left, if I go on vacation thats "unapproved behavior" and the state may not allow me to return to my own home. So hey cool, let's freak out over some half baked stats about overwhelming a healthcare system that doesnt even really exist in the US anyway. This reaction is proof that we are all sick. So

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