What a difference a week makes!
Well there we are.
A little while ago the church could not meet, and what's more, even if it could I couldn't meet with it.
The choir could not rehearse, and even if it could, I could not rehearse with it.
We could travel up to 100km and even stay overnight, but no cafés or restaurants would be open.
Everything was somewhat difficult.
Now we can meet as churches and I am allowed to go, too!
However, we do have to wear masks for the whole duration of the service, removing them briefly for the purposes of the Lord's Supper, we have to disinfect all the surfaces, we have to ventilate the church well, we must stay always 1 meter apart, but we can do everything else we usually do.
And I can do it too.
Now choirs can meet, observing physical distancing, and can sing, faces masked.
And I can meet with them. (I think I probably won't until September, just to be doubly certain.)
Also we can travel anywhere in France. Soon we might even be able to cross into Spain.
In Aquitaine, our region, yesterday over 2500 peolpe were tested for coronavirus, everyone was symptomatic. There were 10 positive cases identified. In Bordeaux itself 800 people were tested - all were symptomatic. None of the tests were positive. The numbers in hospital are falling. Fewer than 40 people are in intensive care for covid-19 in the whole region.
From Tuesday cafés, bars and restaurants can open, keeping physical distancing. Tables are being hastily rearranged and where possible the town hall has given extra space for outside seating. Clients can be unmasked but staff must wear masks. Spare a thought for them. Masks make you feel very hot, and kitchens are already pretty hot and humid.
Concert halls can open from Tuesday.
From 22nd June our cinemas will be open.
There is every prospect that from September life will look more like before.
Some things will probably change permanently, at least until the good weather ends. More people on bicycles. Fewer people in the public transport.
People ask whether we will forget how we used to greet each other. I doubt it.
A little while ago the church could not meet, and what's more, even if it could I couldn't meet with it.
The choir could not rehearse, and even if it could, I could not rehearse with it.
We could travel up to 100km and even stay overnight, but no cafés or restaurants would be open.
Everything was somewhat difficult.
Now we can meet as churches and I am allowed to go, too!
However, we do have to wear masks for the whole duration of the service, removing them briefly for the purposes of the Lord's Supper, we have to disinfect all the surfaces, we have to ventilate the church well, we must stay always 1 meter apart, but we can do everything else we usually do.
And I can do it too.
Now choirs can meet, observing physical distancing, and can sing, faces masked.
And I can meet with them. (I think I probably won't until September, just to be doubly certain.)
Also we can travel anywhere in France. Soon we might even be able to cross into Spain.
In Aquitaine, our region, yesterday over 2500 peolpe were tested for coronavirus, everyone was symptomatic. There were 10 positive cases identified. In Bordeaux itself 800 people were tested - all were symptomatic. None of the tests were positive. The numbers in hospital are falling. Fewer than 40 people are in intensive care for covid-19 in the whole region.
From Tuesday cafés, bars and restaurants can open, keeping physical distancing. Tables are being hastily rearranged and where possible the town hall has given extra space for outside seating. Clients can be unmasked but staff must wear masks. Spare a thought for them. Masks make you feel very hot, and kitchens are already pretty hot and humid.
Concert halls can open from Tuesday.
From 22nd June our cinemas will be open.
There is every prospect that from September life will look more like before.
Some things will probably change permanently, at least until the good weather ends. More people on bicycles. Fewer people in the public transport.
People ask whether we will forget how we used to greet each other. I doubt it.
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