France declares national health crisis – introduces curfew in Paris – VG

Therefore, French President Emmanuel Macron has now declared a curfew for the worst affected areas of France, from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. A national public health crisis is declared as of midnight on Saturday.

– We are in what we call the second wave, says Macron.

Declaring a national health crisis means that very strict measures can be introduced. The curfew will apply in the Ile-de-France region, which includes Paris, as well as in Grenoble, Lille, Lyon, Saint-Etienne, Aix-Marseille, Montpellier, Rouen and Toulouse.

The violation of the curfew can be sanctioned with a fine of 135 euros, or 1,500 euros for repeated violations, Macron points out, noting that there will be controls.

“Covid-19 is a health catastrophe that threatens public health, by its nature and severity,” the French government said in a statement.

The curfew will apply for four weeks. There will be some exceptions, for people in certain positions who go to work or people who need medical attention, for example.

– We have decided not to limit travel between regions, points out Macron.

– Has not lost control

France declared a national public health crisis on March 23 this year, but it was lifted in July, after the first wave of infections was battled. As in Norway, the infection in France is now being transmitted by young adults. Encourage people not to gather in groups of more than six, not on the street, in a restaurant or around the dinner table (that is, six who are not in the same house).

At the same time, Macron emphasizes tonight:

– We have not lost control, is the message of the French president.

– The difference between now and March is that we have not lost control, says Macron, but points out that health workers and emergency services are in a worrying situation.

All regions of the country are red, according to figures from the European Agency for the Control of Communicable Diseases. More than 100 new deaths have been registered in the last 24 hours.

It is the first time since May 20 that there are more than 100 deaths in one day.

France has long been the red color of the Norwegian authorities. But, in fact, none of the French regions is below the Norwegian requirement for what is red: that is, 20 infected per 100,000 inhabitants in the last 14 days.

12 of the 101 ministries in France are in what the French authorities define as the highest level of danger, including Paris, Marseille, Toulouse and Montpellier. These areas are on “high alert” due to extremely high infection pressure, with more than 250 new cases per 100,000 inhabitants in the last seven days.