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Due to the continuing rise in coronavirus infection rates, the highest warning level is being imposed in Paris. This means that stricter measures will come into force, as the office of Prime Minister Jean Castex announced last night. Bars and cafes in the capital and some suburbs will have to be closed, while restaurants will be allowed to remain open if stricter hygiene rules are observed.
This step comes as no surprise. Health Minister Olivier Veran had already said at the end of the week that the situation in the capital and the suburbs had recently deteriorated rapidly.
The tightened measures are to apply for two weeks initially. More details are to be provided today by the Mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, and Police Chief Didier Lallement, as the government further announced. In an initial reaction, Hidalgo spoke of a “very serious” health situation.
Protests against measures in Marseille
In the fight against the pandemic, the “maximum alert level” so far applies to the French overseas territory of Guadeloupe and Marseilles. As a result, restaurants and bars in the port city in the south of France have already had to close – there had been fierce protests against this.
According to a survey quoted by the BFM radio station, 61 percent of the inhabitants of the greater Paris area are in favor of a complete closure of bars. According to the coronavirus measures in force up to now, bars were allowed to open until 22.00 hours.
With almost 17,000 newly registered coronavirus infections within 24 hours, France, with its 67 million inhabitants, has reached a new high. According to figures published on Saturday, 16,972 new infections were recorded within one day. The previous peak was reached on September 24 with 16,096 cases.
- Hector pascua with reports from ORF.at/agencies
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