On this website you can find information and guidance from the French Government regarding the current outbreak of coronavirus disease COVID-19 in France.
Restrictions and Requirements in Metropolitan France
From 30 October 2020 new lockdown measures are established for four weeks in metropolitan France and Martinique. You may only leave your residency in the following circumstances and with an exemption certificate:
- Commuting to and from work, school or training place; carrying out essential business trips that cannot be postponed; sitting exams;
- The purchase of professional supplies or basic commodities, or collecting an order;
- Medical appointments that cannot be carried out remotely or postponed;
- Essential family reasons, assisting vulnerable persons, persons in a precarious situation or taking care of children;
- Persons with a disability and their accompanying person
- Individual outdoor exercise, walks with members of your household only or with pets, within 1 km of your residence and for no longer than one hour;
- Judicial or administrative summons; appointments for a public service;
- Participating in a mission of general interest upon request from an administrative authority
- Taking children to and from school or after-school activities.
An electronic version of the certificate is also available (in French only) and may be presented to authorities on your smartphone.
If you do not respect these rules, you may be liable for a €135 fine.
Employment
You must work from home if it is possible to do so.
If you cannot work from home, staggered work patterns must be encouraged, to reduce the numbers of people both in the workplace and in public transport.
Schools
All schools from kindergarten to high schools will remain open during lockdown, face masks are compulsory for all children above the age of 6.
All universities lectures will be on videoconference and libraries will be accessible only with an appointment.
Shops and venues
Non-essential shops and bars, restaurants and other venues are closed. Take-away, grocery stores and supermarkets, pharmacies, tobacconists, petrol stations and other essential stores will remain open.
Public services remain open.
Places of worship may remain open for weddings (with a maximum of six people) and funerals (with a maximum of 30 people).
You must wear a mask in all open venues.
Overseas Territories
Lockdown measures do not apply in overseas territories except for Martinique. In order to travel to an Overseas Territory you must present a negative PCR test less than 72 hours old.
Travel
You may not travel between different parts of France
Internal European borders will remain open but external borders are closed except for essential travel. All travelers arriving in France will be tested at airports and ports.
Masks must be worn at all times in public transport.
More information
Find more information for foreign nationals on the website of
the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs.
Health advice
What is coronavirus COVID-19?
Coronaviruses (CoV) are a large family of viruses. COVID-19 is a new strain of coronavirus that causes illness ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases.
Common signs of infection include respiratory symptoms, fever, coughing, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties.
How can I protect myself from the virus?
The virus does not spread on its own. People who have the virus are the ones who spread it. Therefore, the following measures can help you protect yourself (and others) from the virus :
- Wash your hands very often ;
- Use single-use tissues, and then throw them away ;
- Cough and sneeze into your arm or into a tissue ;
- Do not shake hands or greet people with kisses on the cheek ;
- Respect social distancing: you should remain further than a metre from others.
- Wear a mask if social distancing cannot be respected.
What should you do if you are feeling ill?
If you have a cough or a temperature, stay at home, avoid contact with others and call a doctor.
If you have a cough and/or a temperature, and you have difficulty breathing and/or you are feeling faint, dial 15 or call or send a text to 114 if you have a speech or hearing impairment.
Hotlines
A toll-free hotline service (French only) can answer your questions about the Coronavirus COVID-19 non-stop, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week: 0 800 130 000 (from abroad: +33 800 130 000, depending on your operator).
Please note that the toll-free hotline service cannot give medical advice.