“Show me the decree!” Determined, the man does not let himself be told. Spanning the police ribbons which block the passage, the walker sure of his right ignores the injunctions of the three members of the Civil protection who, in this late morning of Easter Monday, try to dissuade him from taking the path of the Cliffs, one of the fourteen sites that the police had subjected to access restrictions for the long Easter weekend. The weather forecast hinted at an overwhelming influx in the midst of a health crisis and most Genevans played the game.
But not that walker. Two dog owners witness the scene, bewildered. Having had to deprive her poodle Julius of a seaside walk on the banks of the Rhone, Nathalie is enraged to see that the rules only apply to those who are willing to respect them and that those who believe they are exempt get away with so good account. “It is on the verge of making me freak out to see that!” exclaims the resident of the Junction. Lacking police powers, the CP says it is powerless in the face of the recalcitrant, even if it spent the morning dissuading runners, fishermen, walkers and even swimmers. Most bend well thanks to the rules, witnesses said.
Jogging epidemic
Again on Saturday, when no one was on guard (the police were then very busy with the giant lines that had formed at the entrance to the shops), the forbidden shore was then very crowded under a summer sun. But the pontoon located below the Prieuré-de-Saint-Jean promenade had its access condemned by the famous red and white ribbons. The day before, we had to evacuate what had become a kind of human grill, a promiscuous stall for skin fond of tanning.
Change of scenery, heading to the left bank of the lake. On the quays, at the exit of the English Garden, Nahom struggles to fight alone on the terrace of an abandoned glacier, transformed into a ring. He at least knows how to be dissuasive as far as respecting safety distances is concerned! “I also normally box alone,” said the teenager. But now, because of the epidemic, I no longer have a partner! ”
Sport is a major reason for exceptional confinement, notes Josée, a regular on the shores of the lake and the Rhône: “Everyone has been running for a few weeks, we are witnessing an epidemic of jogging and they graze you! ”
Confinement and good weather, this is the Geneva dilemma of this Easter weekend. Parks and quays are densely gridded by the police force and the PC, several lacustrine accesses are condemned. La Grange park is dotted with small scattered groups, a few families and most often duos.
Without a balcony, it’s hard
Two friends are talking near a tree. “I did not go out yesterday, I live in a small apartment without balcony and it cries incessantly throughout the building, there is a moment when it becomes hard and I gave an appointment to my friend in a place not confined, ”says Yann. “And we respect the rules”, assures his friend Fabrice.
“As long as we can go out, we go out, but we keep our distance and we don’t see anyone,” explain Tania and Pepé, a young couple lying near the football field with their two children. It is not easy to stay at home and work there with children who are not in school. And it’s hard for them too, the little one suffers from not seeing his friends. ”
The Easter break was not without a hitch. Friday, we had to partially evacuate the overcrowded Eaux-Vives park. Police intervened in Florissant on Saturday evening to dissolve an improvised disco at the foot of a DJ’s balcony, said “20 minutes”. Similar incidents have been reported in Lignon, Avanchets and Libellules, according to the Geneva Department of Security, Employment and Health (DSES) which reports a boom in citizen denunciations. Apparently, the sense of impunity of some awakens the telephone urges of others.
Rather satisfied authorities
“Overall, the majority of people have certainly left their homes, but, despite exceptions, they have played the game and the repression and deterrence system has played its role, which satisfies us, comments Laurent Paoliello, at name of DSES. It was in the evening that we encountered the main problems, with a younger and more festive population. “
The repression was not absent during the weekend, with 185 order fines imposed from Friday to Sunday (72 Friday, as many Saturday and 41 on Easter). Of this total, 86 logs punished groupings of more than five people and the other 99 disrespect for the minimum distance of two meters. This count does not include the criminal sanctions imposed in particular on repeat offenders.
Created: 13.04.2020, 21h46
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