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So far, a curfew has been established in most of the country, starting at 8 p.m. and lasts until 6 p.m., although in some places, especially in the eastern part of the pandemic, it begins at 6 p.m.
Castex said there had been no fear of a COVID-19 jump after the year-end holidays, but stressed that a new quarantine would be introduced “immediately” if the epidemiological situation drastically deteriorates.
The situation in France is now “under control” but remains “fragile,” the prime minister said. Hospital burden remains “high but stable,” he noted.
Schools can continue to operate, but indoor sports activities are currently prohibited.
Beginning January 25, college freshmen will be able to return to the auditoriums, but the number of class participants will be limited.
Castex also said at a press conference that travelers coming to France from outside the European Union will have to give a negative COVID-19 test result 72 hours or less ago and isolate themselves for seven days. They will then need to undergo another PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test.
The new measures were prompted in part by fears that new mutated variants of the virus, first detected in Britain and South Africa, will become the dominant factor in the spread, Castex said.
To speed up vaccination, which critics found too slow compared to France’s neighbors, Castex said people with diseases that make them particularly vulnerable could already be vaccinated against COVID-19 when more than 700 vaccination centers open Monday. .
He added that more than a million people will be vaccinated by the end of January, a goal announced in late December.
The prime minister also defended the decision to prioritize the elderly and healthcare workers rather than trying to vaccinate as many people as possible as soon as possible.
“The sooner we can vaccinate the most vulnerable, the sooner our hospitals will avoid the risk of overcrowding,” Castex said.
Schools can continue to operate, but indoor sports activities are currently prohibited.
Castex also told a news conference that travelers arriving in France from outside the European Union will have to test negative for COVID-19 72 hours or less ago and isolate themselves for seven days.
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