President Emmanuel Macron in an announcement said that France is witnessing a second wave of the coronavirus in several cities, including Paris, Lille, Lyon, Marseille, Toulouse after a rising number of cases. A curfew will be imposed in the country that will go into effect from 9 a.m. to 6 a.m. for four weeks starting Saturday.
"Yes, what we call curfew is an adequate measure," Sputnik quoted Macron in an interview with the local media. President Emmanuel Macron also added that the curfew would function in cities like the Ile-de-France region, as well as in Lille, Grenoble, Lyon, Marseille, Rouen, Saint-Etienne, Montpellier, Toulouse.
President Macron said that France was going through the second wave of coronavirus, mentioning that the situation is still under control. The country is recording an average of 20,000 new cases of infection per day.
“We have now entered a phase to which we must react. The virus is everywhere in France. We have not lost control. We are in a situation that worries us. But we have concluded the first wave of the epidemic.” said Macron.
"The virus, which we have been familiar with now for eight months, is returning. We are in a situation that is often called the second wave," President Macron added.
Driving is not banned during the curfew between 9 p.m. to 6 a.m but travel will be strictly limited and people can only travel if necessary.
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President added, “We must continue to be able to go to work in all sectors. For those who have emergencies, health, for example, there will be authorisations.”
France has seen a resurgence in covid-19 cases since July. As of Wednesday, the French authorities confirm that the country has 756,472 COVID-19 cases and 32,942 related fatalities.