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French Health Minister Olivier Véran imposed stricter restrictions in three more regions on Thursday night as part of the government’s efforts to stem the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.
Last week, the administration of President Emmanuel Macron ordered the closure of non-essential stores and limits on travel in 16 regions, including the area around Paris.
Véran added to the list Aube in the northeast, Nièvre in central France and the Rhone department in the southeast.
“The Covid-19 pandemic is accelerating almost everywhere in France,” Véran said.
“The pressure on the hospital system will continue in this new wave. We are well inserted … and far from outside of that. ”
The measures will take effect on Friday at midnight and will last for four weeks.
More than 93,000 people have died from the coronavirus in France since January 2020, the fifth highest death toll in the world.
Vaccination
Véran outlined the government’s latest plan when health chiefs reported that just over seven million people in France have received at least one vaccine against the disease.
But as that campaign continues to unfold across the country, concerns are mounting about the number of schools that have been closing due to the disease.
The Education Ministry said 2,962 classes had been suspended, a 30 percent increase from last week.
Jean Rottner, the leader of the Grand Est Region, which covers cities such as Strasbourg, Mulhouse, Metz and Nancy, said the government had to contemplate a general closure of schools.
In a tweet, he highlighted the explosion of suspended classes in his region from 27 to 355 in a week, adding: “There seems to be a topic of discussion.”
Alain Lassus, the leader of the Nièvre region, also increased the pressure on Macron’s ministers.
“I find the measures quite normal but insufficient,” he told the AFP news agency. ”
“It is necessary to close schools as soon as possible and for five weeks in my opinion to stop the development of the virus.”
The former general practitioner added: “It is time for health problems to become the priority. We are pushing the limits. Intensive care wards in our region are completely saturated.”
