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France is also stepping up the fight against Corona. Drastic new measures should be applied from Friday. President Macron warned the French of the second deadliest wave.
With exit restrictions across the country, France is stepping up its fight against the second wave of the corona pandemic. The restrictions will apply from Friday, President Emmanuel Macron announced in a televised speech. The 42-year-old made it clear that restrictions are less stringent than they were in the spring, when public life in the country was largely at a standstill.
Restrictions until December
In general, people need to stay home except for essential purchases or to see a doctor. If possible, people should also work from home. In contrast to the March closure, most schools will remain open this time. However, bars and restaurants must close. The measures are initially limited to December 1.
“Stay home as much as possible,” Macron asked his compatriots. “The virus is spreading at a rate that even the most pessimistic predictions would not have predicted.” France is in the same situation as neighboring countries: “Invaded by a second wave that we know will be harsher, more deadly than the first,” Macron said.
“The second wave is here”
The new restrictions are not unexpected for the estimated 67 million French people. Government spokesman Gabriel Attal had already promised a “new stage” before the head of state’s speech. “The second wave is here,” the spokesman said after a cabinet meeting. You have to do everything you can to avoid being overwhelmed by this wave. At the cabinet meeting, the head of state spoke of a massive, widespread and largely unexpected deterioration in Europe. Macron also discussed the crown situation twice in two days at a national security council.
Macron had only contacted citizens two weeks ago. At the time it announced night curfews for Paris and other metropolitan areas. Subsequently, the government of Prime Minister Jean Castex extended the restrictions to 54 departments and the overseas territory of French Polynesia. So far, a night curfew has been applied to about two-thirds of the population, or about 46 million people.
Deaths increase in the country
The crown’s situation in the country has dramatically worsened for weeks. More recently, France had a peak of more than 50,000 new infections daily. The number of deaths associated with the coronavirus rose significantly: On Tuesday night, authorities reported 523 new victims. The high level of April was thus reached again. The total number of deaths now exceeds 35,500.
Attal spokesman said that within two weeks a situation similar to the peak of the first wave of epidemics threatens the intensive care units of hospitals. At the time, exit restrictions in France were among the strictest in Europe, schools were closed. Then citizens had to show certificates when they were searched on the street.
Growing fears
There is fear in the country that public sector industries are increasingly threatened with closure. “In the hotel industry, gastronomy, culture, tourism and other places, many who until now have resisted as well as they can will no longer have the strength to face such a challenge for the second time,” warned the conservative daily “Le Figaro”.
Criticism of the government’s crisis management came from the opposition. He had the impression of “constant improvisation,” the influential Conservative MP Eric Ciotti wrote on Twitter.
