The French government had been discussing all week whether to inflict another lockdown, as Covid cases proceed to climb.
However, after a Friday evening meeting of the Defence Council, which makes the final decision on health restrictions in France, Prime Minister Jean Castex proclaimed no lockdown – for now.
The extra restrictions announced by the PM are;
- A ban on all travel in and out of France from outside the EU, with an exception only for vital travel from midnight Sunday (0:00am).
- All arrivals into France from within the EU must present a negative Covid test (previously this rule had only applied to arrivals by air and sea). Cross-border workers are exempt from this requirement
- From Sunday, all non-food shopping centres larger than 20,000 square metres will close
- The protocol on home-working will be reinforced so that everyone who can work from home does so
- Police will step up checks on compliance with the curfew and crackdown on illegal parties and restaurant-opening.
The current rules including the 6 pm curfew will remain in place.