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PARIS: France will begin to relax the COVID-19 lockdown rules in the coming weeks, carrying out the process in three stages to prevent a new outbreak of the pandemic, the government said on Sunday (November 22).
On Tuesday, President Emmanuel Macron will give a speech to the nation on the situation of the virus and may announce a partial relaxation of the restrictions in force from October 30.
“Emmanuel Macron will offer perspectives for several weeks, especially on how we adjust our strategy. What is at stake is to adapt the blocking rules as the health situation improves and prevent a new outbreak of the epidemic,” said the government spokesman Gabriel Attal to Le Journal Du Dimanche.
“There will be three steps to (block) relaxation in view of the health situation and the risks linked to some companies: a first step around December 1, then before the end of the year holidays and then from January 2021, “Attal added.
READ: France becomes the first European country to exceed 2 million cases of COVID-19
Macron has said that France’s second national blockade, which began on October 30, would last at least four weeks. Curbs include the closure of nonessential shops, restaurants and bars.
But with recent data showing France is on track to curb a surge in coronavirus infections, the government is under pressure from stores and businesses to ease restrictions in time for the holiday shopping season, when many retailers generate the biggest. part of your annual turnover.
“We had committed to allowing (the traders) to reopen around December 1 if the health situation improved, which appears to be the case,” Attal said.
However, the bars and restaurants “continue experimenting restrictions,” he added.
On Thursday, Health Minister Olivier Veran said France will win its battle against the coronavirus, but it is a fight that will take time, warning that the lockdown was not over yet.
The number of new coronavirus infections in France increased by 17,881 on Saturday, down from the 22,882 reported on Friday, while the number of people hospitalized with COVID-19 fell for the fifth day in a row to 31,365.
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