France far from exiting partial lockdown, says govt

PARIS: France is unlikely to lift a partial coronavirus lockdown any time soon, a government spokesman said on Wednesday, even if some restrictions may be relaxed before Christmas.

President Emmanuel Macron and top ministers discussed the crisis, including whether to ease some restrictions from Dec 1 “if conditions allow it”, spokesman Gabriel Attal said.

But Attal insisted: “We’re not at all near ending the lockdown, we’re still far from it even.”

Declines in new infections since a second nationwide lockdown began on Oct 30 have sparked calls from business groups to let shops open as soon as Nov 27 for the “Black Friday” sales that kick off the holiday shopping season.

If not, they fear losing out to internet giants such as Amazon, expected to target stuck-at-home shoppers.

The French mayors’ association AMF also called on Wednesday for a gradual reopening of shops “to avoid a rush of clients ahead of Christmas, when allowing them to resume operations will be inevitable”.

But Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire on Wednesday called on retailers – including e-commerce firms – to postpone the Black Friday marketing blitz.

Macron himself is again expected to address the nation on the virus crisis next week, in particular on the prospects for travel and family gatherings for the fast-approaching holiday break.

But officials are wary of taking a “stop and go” approach to fighting the outbreak even if the pandemic slows, since hospitals remain packed with Covid-19 patients.