French president Macron tells nation that curfew must stay for at least another month as health chief says 6pm lock-in rule is ‘working very well’
- Macron had been speaking during official trip to Seine-Saint-Denis earlier today
- He stressed curfew would need to remain in place for another four to six weeks
- It comes as France’s top public health official hailed the ongoing measures
French President Emmanuel Macron has told the nation that the 6pm to 6am curfew must stay for at least another month as health chiefs claim the restrictions are ‘working very well’.
Macron had been speaking with a group of industrial trade trainees during an official trip to Seine-Saint-Denis earlier today.
He was asked by one student if the start time of the curfew could be pushed back by one hour to 7pm ‘because it is hard’.
But the head of state was quick to stress that the curfew would need to remain in place for another four to six weeks amid indications that coronavirus cases are on the rise in France once again.
French President Emmanuel Macron has told the nation that the 6pm to 6am curfew must stay for at least another month as health chiefs reveal the restrictions are ‘working very well’. Pictured: Police in Paris preparing to enforce curfew earlier today
An initial 8pm curfew began in the country on December 15 but was brought forward to 6pm just one month later on January 16. Pictured: Crowds along the riverbanks in Paris earlier today
An initial 8pm curfew began in the country on December 15 but was brought forward to 6pm just one month later on January 16.
Several clips released in recent days show officers continuing to police the banks of the River Seine in Paris as they enforce the curfew and shepherd crowds home.
Macron’s comments have since been confirmed by the Elysee who told Le Parisien: ‘It’s a moment where the vaccination will be developing. In four to six weeks, we will have vaccinated more French people, which will affect the evolution of the epidemic.
It added: ‘The strategy is not changing. We are continuing to take the necessary measures, as always on a case-by-case basis.’
The government holds weekly assessments every Thursday and, most recently, stated that 20 departments were placed under ‘reinforced surveillance’ amid a rise in coronavirus cases in those areas.
The curfew would need to remain in place for another four to six weeks amid indications that coronavirus cases are on the rise in France once again. Pictured: Woman walking on the empty street in Paris after 6pm
Macron had been speaking with a group of industrial trade trainees during an official trip to Seine-Saint-Denis earlier today (pictured)
On Sunday France registered 19,952 new coronavirus infection cases and 122 Covid-related deaths, according to figures released by the Public Health Agency.
But France’s top public health official Jerome Salomon has hailed the nationwide curfew imposed by the government.
He told the Journal de Dimanche: ‘The situation is obviously very tense, but the government has taken strong braking measures, notably the curfew, which is working very well.’
Salomon added: ‘We can still avoid confinement if everyone is mobilised.’