LOCKDOWN IN FRANCE: Killarney woman Edith Lucey is currently in lockdown in the South of France.

By Michelle Crean

One Killarney woman, who is currently living in the South of France, says people have been officially confined at home – possibly until the end of May.

Edith Lucey from Muckross, who is currently living just outside Marseilles, says official lockdown in the country began on March 17.

People are allowed to leave their homes for one hour each day, but if they do, they must bring a signed document stating where they are going, why and when.

“For weeks now people have been clapping in support of healthcare workers at 8pm from their windows, but that clap is getting more fatigued as the time rolls on,” Edith, who attended Loughquittane NS and Presentation Secondary, told the Killarney Advertiser this week.

Last week numbers were continually rising causing concern in the country, Edith explained.

“People are understandably agitated and demoralised. A recent tally counted 509 deaths in 24 hours. Italy’s own harrowing statistics may have warned us, but now that it is happening here it is still difficult to grasp.”

She explained that the response in France, which seemed painfully slow to live through at first, has been swift and sweeping.

“Public places were shut, the lockdown measures were installed, and the social security system was launched into overdrive to cover a nation’s bills and wages. The President made two speeches within four days to stress the gravity of what was happening and to clarify how France would change in the following weeks.”

Edith, who teaches at the University of Aix-Marseille, found herself working from home as everyone in Ireland continued on as normal, with many here in Kerry asking her what life was like.

“Everything has been moved online, continuing as normally as possible and in a way that only the French can; exchanging emails about solidarity and fraternity.”

Where she lives is around two hours from Italy and three hours from Spain.

“Along the Mediterranean you grow accustomed to a certain bustle of jam-packed terraces all year round. We have moved from popping to the shops and giving a kiss on the cheek to someone we know to nodding two meters away. It can be a tough feeling to know you can’t step outside your front door without a legal document, but it is a small ask to stop this virus from spreading."

However, this week she added that numbers of confirmed cases are thankfully beginning to fall and hopefully everything will get back to normal in the very near future.