French Streets Empty, Curfew Expands to 46 Million People

The French authorities expanded, on Thursday, the night curfew measures to include 38 new areas, in addition to an "overseas" area. 

French Prime Minister Jean Castex warned that "the coming weeks will be tough."

Castex announced Thursday the imposition of a curfew from nine in the evening until six in the morning on 38 new French regions, in addition to an overseas region.

He warned that "The coming weeks will be harsh and our hospital services will be subject to severe pressure,” predicting that November would be "stressful" and that the number of deaths would continue to "rise."

"If we do not collectively succeed in controlling the epidemic, we will face a tragic situation and consider the possibility of imposing harsher measures," said Castex.

Thus, this curfew will apply to about 46 million people in order to confront the second epidemic wave of the novel coronavirus.

The new ban will start Friday night to Saturday and will last for six weeks. This means that bars, restaurants and shops located in the concerned areas will be closed at 9 pm.

After a first wave that resulted in more than 30,000 deaths in the spring, France faces a few weeks ago a second epidemic wave.

French President Emmanuel Macron announced on Wednesday evening, October 14, the imposition of a night curfew, in Paris and eight major cities.

The government looks forward to approving restrictions on movement, gatherings, or on opening facilities until at least April 1, 2021, that will include all or part of the national territory, according to the existing epidemiological situation.

On Thursday, France set a new record with the number of daily infections with the Covid-19, which reached more than 40,000, in addition to 165 new deaths.

The health situation continues to deteriorate in France, with 41,622 new cases of coronavirus recorded in 24 hours, 15,000 more than yesterday, in a record daily toll, according to figures published Thursday by the Public Health Authority.