Evening curfews for French cities amid surge in virus cases
FRANCE is to impose 9pm to 6am curfews on nine cities including Paris, Emmanuel Macron announced last night, as Europe struggles to stem spiralling coronavirus infection rates.
The French president said the restrictions could last up to six weeks and those caught breaking the rules face a fine of €135 (£122).
With 20,000 new cases per day and 200 daily admissions to intensive care, Mr Macron said: “We are in what people call the second wave … We must take stricter measures.
“It would be disproportionate to place the entire country back into lockdown but yes, what they call a curfew is a pertinent measure.”
The restrictions begin in Paris, Grenoble, Lille, Lyon, Marseille, Saint-étienne, Toulouse, Montpellier and Rouen on Saturday.
The curfews, which allow for essential outdoor trips, will last for at least a month and could possibly be extended to six weeks, with parliamentary approval.
The French have been told to stick to bubbles of six people whenever possible, and office staff should work from home f or at l east t wo days per week. Furloughing is to be maintained in al l businesses hit by curfew measures.
However, Mr Macron said there would be no travel restrictions and the French can still go on holiday.
“We haven’t lost control. We are in a situation that is worrying and justifies neither being i nactive nor panicstricken,” he said in a TV interview.
In Spain, Catalonia’s government announced a circuit breaker two-week l ockdown with stricter measures against social interaction than any other region. It includes the complete closure of bars and restaurants, which will only be allowed to provide takeaway services.
“We need to act today to avoid a total confinement in a few weeks’ time,” said Pere Aragonès, the acting president of Catalonia.
As well as the pre-existing rule-of-six on social gatherings, Alba Vergès, Catalonia’s regional health minister, asked people to avoid all meetings outside the family unit.
Similar measures came into force across the Netherlands, including restrictions on alcohol sales and new mask requirements.
António Costa, the Portuguese prime minister, also declared a new nationwide state of emergency on Wednesday as infections surged in a country once applauded for its response to the coronavirus.
In Germany, talks between Angela Merkel, the chancellor, and regional leaders over new restrictions continued late into the night amid reports of deep divisions over the way forward. There were unconfirmed reports of agreement on some measures including an 11pm curfew for restaurants and pubs in the worst-hit areas.
But the talks were believed to be deadlocked on other issues including a controversial travel ban within Germany for people from areas with a high infection rate.
Angela Merkel was believed to be pushing for tough new restrictions.
Details of her proposals, leaked ahead of the talks, included new nationwide limits on the number of people who can meet unless the infection rate is slowed within the next 10 days.
But under Germany’s federal system, it is the leaders of the 16 states who have control over lockdown measures and Mrs Merkel can only advise and use her powers of persuasion.