France decided against imposing a third coronavirus nationwide lockdown on Friday and instead ordered tighter controls at its borders, increased police action against curfew breakers and a greater adherence to working from home.
The daily number of new coronavirus infections in France stayed above 20 000 on average for the fourth straight day on Tuesday while hospitalisations reached an eight-week high of 27 041, increasing fears of a third national lockdown.
The French government is now recommending that people wear surgical masks in public because they offer better protection from COVID-19 transmission than fabric face coverings, Health Minister Olivier Veran said on Thursday.
French chef Sylvain Sendra’s restaurant has been closed for months, and his employees are on furlough, but on Monday he received a morsel of good news: his restaurant had kept its star in the annual Michelin guide.
France’s average daily new COVID-19 infections hit a six-and-a-half week high of 18 270 on Monday, while the number of people being treated in intensive care units for the disease rose above 2 800 for the first time in a month.
SABC © 2021
