Forms and rules for Dunkirk and Riviera weekend lockdowns

This weekend and next weekend (March 6 - 7), communes along the Alpes-Maritimes coast and the city of Dunkirk and its surrounding area in the Nord will be under lockdown.

The measure has been brought in to help stem a surge in Covid-19 cases. The lockdowns are in addition to the current 18:00 to 06:00 curfew that applies nationally.

See our map here for the communes affected in the Alpes-Maritimes. In the Nord, the lockdown applies to the city of Dunkirk and the Community of Communes of Hauts de Flandre.

Twenty other departments in France are also being closely monitored with a view to introducing similar stricter measures. A decision on this will be made next week.

In both the Alpes-Maritimes and Dunkirk the lockdown begins on Friday at 18:00 and lasts until the following Monday at 06:00.

During this time, it will only be possible to leave the house for certain specific reasons. These are in addition to the reasons already set out for the curfew, such as for going to work or going out for medical reasons. The additional reasons that apply specifically to the weekend lockdowns are:

• Shopping for basic necessities including professional supplies, to pick up ordered goods, for home deliveries, and for relocations
• Exercise or walking pets, for a maximum duration of one hour within a five kilometre radius of your home
• Participating in authorised gatherings, including going to and from places of worship
• Travel to a public service or legal professional, for an act or procedure that cannot be performed remotely.

Everyone going out in an area under lockdown will need to fill out an exemption certificate (attestation de déplacement) and tick the appropriate box.

These forms can be found on the Interior Ministry’s website here (in French or English). These forms are combined with the ones used to go out during the curfew. Scroll down to find the additional reasons for going out during the weekend lockdown.

You can also use the Covid-19 track and trace phone application TousAntiCovid to download an attestation to your phone.

Shops and businesses

In both areas, all businesses will be closed with the exception of food shops, pharmacies, medical laboratories, tabacs, petrol stations and garages.

Also, until March 8 all commercial spaces over 5000m2 (except food shops and pharmacies) will be closed. For the businesses that are allowed to remain open that are over 400m2 there will now be a limit of one customer per 15 square metres rather than one customer per 10 square metres.

A click and collect option is still available for the closed commercial spaces.

Music and alcohol

The consumption of alcohol on public streets is banned during the lockdown weekends throughout the whole of the Nord and in the Alpes-Maritimes.

There is also a ban on playing loud music in public or outside of businesses in both areas.

Nice beaches closed

In addition to the lockdown, Nice mayor Christian Estrosi has brought in a ban on access to the city’s beaches during the two weekends.

"I have chosen to close the south part of the Promenade des Anglais, the coastal trail and the beaches,” the mayor announced.

He said he hoped it would stop large gatherings of people.

Read more:

Covid France: 20 departments monitored for stricter measures

Covid: Paris needs a 3-week full lockdown, says deputy mayor