Macron’s ‘war’ on coronavirus is bringing out the best and worst in Parisians

I missed Emmanuel Macron’s address to the nation last night. I popped to the supermarket, guessing (correctly) that the queues of earlier in the day would have dissipated with most people at home in front of their television sets listening to what their president had to say.

I stocked up on essentials – wine, cheese and chocolate – and returned to the anticipated news that as of midday today France is under lockdown, or as they say across the Channel ‘confinement’. Bars and restaurants have been closed since midnight on Saturday, and from now until the end of month (and probably beyond) one can only venture outside with a completed government form explaining the purpose of the sortie: to go to work, to buy more provisions at the supermarket or to walk the dog. Those who don’t have the necessary paperwork are liable to have their collar felt by one of the 100,000 police officers now patrolling the streets and fined £120 (€135).