Despite all the measures, the situation in France has returned to an alarming level. There is a curfew from 6:00 PM to 6:00 AM throughout the country.
Half of the infections are British variant
“The second lockdown in November was effective. Then the virus was really suppressed and the months after it went pretty well,” says France correspondent Eveline Bijlsma. “But with the British variant things are now suddenly going very fast. You notice that people are afraid of that.”
Half of the corona infections in France are caused by the British variant, while this level was not expected until mid-March.
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The government wants to prevent a third national lockdown at all costs, for fear of the economic consequences and resistance of the French.
And there is something striking going on in France: there are large differences in the number of infections per department. Therefore, when taking measures, the focus is now mainly on regional matters.
Weekendlockdowns
Strict measures are already in place in two areas: in the cities of Dunkirk (department Nord) and Nice (Alpes-Maritimes) the British variant is spreading like an oil slick. These provinces will therefore go into ‘weekend lockdown’ for the next two weeks.
From Friday afternoon to Monday morning, people are only allowed outside when it is essential. For example, walking the dog, shopping or for medical reasons. You can also exercise outside, but only one hour a day and no further than five kilometers from home.
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Twenty departments
Twenty departments, including the two that already have a weekend lockdown, were declared a risk area last night because of the highest number of infections.
These regions will be closely monitored in the coming days. If it intensifies there in the coming days, extra measures will be taken there too.
Prime Minister Jean Castex warns: “The next days will be crucial in some twenty departments where the alert threshold has been exceeded. If the situation gets worse, measures will also be taken there from 6 March.”
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The mayor of Paris even proposed to close the city completely for three weeks, with the idea of ’reopening everything again’ afterwards. Including the catering industry, museums, cinemas and theaters.
The variation in infections can be explained: “It is colder in the east of the country, so the virus survives better and people ventilate their homes less”, says correspondent Bijlsma. “Those departments are also close to the border with another country.”
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In Moselle, a department bordering Germany and Luxembourg, it is mainly the South African variety that is taking over and spreading among young people.
“And in Dunkirk (Nord), the increase in infections coincided with Carnival. There are also clusters within families there.”
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‘French are obedient’
In our country it is said the rack is out and people are increasingly in need of relaxation. How about that in France?
“It’s not like in the Netherlands here. People here also understand the measures. The French are obedient and also fearful of the British variant,” says Bijlsma.
Hope is pinned on vaccination, although it is still slow. Just over 4 million French have received a vaccine. “Macron’s promise is that all adults in France will be vaccinated by the end of August. At this rate, we will be ready in France in September 2023.”
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