Infection map of France reveals how only Paris and Marseilles have major outbreaks while majority of country is Covid free – as Spain, Netherlands and Malta are among 18 nations on Britain’s 14-day quarantine list
- France’s two largest cities have both been declared high-risk Covid-19 zone
- Councils can shut down restaurants and restrict access to public transport
- Areas including Essonne and Alpes-Maritimes both urge locals to be ‘vigilant’
- But various other cities haven’t seen a high number of cases at all figures show
A coronavirus infection map of France has revealed that only Paris and Marseilles have major outbreaks while most of the country remains largely unaffected.
France’s two largest cities – which have made face masks compulsory in many public open spaces – have both been declared high-risk Covid-19 zones, giving authorities more power to impose stricter control measures.
This means that councils can shut down bars and restaurants, close roads to traffic, and restrict access to public transport.
A coronavirus infection map of France has revealed that only Paris and Marseilles have major outbreaks while most of the country is barely affected at all
A family wearing face masks, walk past the Louvre Museum in Paris on Sunday
A family on the Champs Elysee avenue wear their protective face masks after the city made them compulsary
Areas including Essonne and popular holiday-destination Alpes-Maritimes both urge locals to be ‘vigilant’ about the spread.
But various other cities including Limoges and Perpignan haven’t seen a high number of cases at all.
The government this week put France on its quarantine list meaning anyone landing in the UK from France must isolate for 14 days.
The 11th-hour move – which kicked in at 4am this morning – sparked chaos for an estimated 500,000 British holidaymakers in France – some 160,000 of whom made a desperate bid to get home.
Eurostar passengers arrive at St Pancras Station in London from Paris on the first train after a quarantine was put in effect for people returning from France
Travellers from France arrive at the Eurostar terminal at St Pancras International after France was removed from the list of safe countries people can travel to without going into quarantine
It came after the country reported a spike of just under 14,000 cases in a week.
This jump included 2,669 new infections announced on Thursday, meaning France has suffered 21.0 cases per 100,000 people in seven days.
This is above the threshold of 20 identified by Grant Shapps, Britain’s Transport Minister, as the key to Britain’s quarantine rules.
France has also reported that the pace of growth in the disease has been fastest among people aged 15 to 44.
Eurostar passengers were seen in St Pancras Station in London after they arriving from Paris. They will now need to quarantine
Travellers arrive back in the UK from France at St. Pancras station in London after the quarantine came into force at 4am
The country is likely to impose to tit-for-tat quarantine restrictions ‘within days’ for people arriving from Britain, meaning British travellers will have to self-isolate on arrival there too.
‘Reciprocal arrangements are common in these situations and these are likely within days,’ said the French government source.
France is the world’s most popular tourist destination, and the British are one of the biggest visitor groups, meaning the quarantine will have a devastating effect.
Travellers arrive back in the UK from Paris. All passengers wear their protective coronavirus face mask while they travel
Regions such as Brittany, Normandy, the French Riviera and Paris itself are normally packed with Britons in August.
Clément Beaune, the French Transport Minister, said on Twitter that his government ‘regretted’ Britain’s decision to impose quarantine, and confirmed they would ‘reciprocate’ with similar measures.
Despite this, Mr Beaune said he was ‘hoping for a return to normal as soon as possible.’