Visiting family or friends is not allowed – VG

After French President Emmanuel Macron yesterday announced a new national lockdown, Prime Minister Jean Castex today announced a further tightening.

On Wednesday it became known that bars, restaurants, cafes and shops must be closed. It is not possible to travel between regions of France and universities must be closed.

Now additional restrictions are being introduced:

• It becomes illegal to visit friends and family.
• If you want to perform outdoors, you must show a document.
• Exercise outdoors is only allowed one hour a day and within one kilometer of the house.
• It is not allowed to travel nationally.
• Religious sites can remain open, but ceremonies cannot be held.
• Children over the age of six must wear a bandage in class.
• Hotels can maintain minimal activity in relation to business travel.
• Home office is mandatory unless impossible to implement.

The measures will come into force as of next Friday and will initially extend until at least December 1.

All French regions now have a critically high level of infection and doctors are warning of the overcrowding of intensive care units.

– The virus spreads at a speed that even the most pessimistic calculations could not predict. We have not handled the situation as well as we should have, acknowledged French President Emmanuel Macron when he announced the shutdown on Wednesday.

The goal is for the spread of the infection to return to a level of around 5,000 registered cases per day, compared to 40,000 in recent days. According to one of the government’s medical advisers, Professor Jean-François Delfraissy, the shutdown is likely to last longer.

– By December 1, we will not have around 5,000 infected per day. I can say that right away. We will need more time, Delfraissy said according to Reuters.

The case is being updated.