In France, the fight against COVID-19 is being
waged one baguette at a time.
No longer just a mere staple, the iconic loaf and
the French daily ritual of buying it have become
loaded with moral, civic and public health
considerations that could never have been
imagined before the new coronavirus turned life
upside down.
In a nation in lockdown, popping out for a fresh
baguette is proving a handy excuse for people
to get out of the house. There is one notable
exception: a town on the Mediterranean coast
where the mayor has banned people from doing
just that, to keep them indoors.