France has declared a national curfew and demands …

From next Saturday and for two weeks, France to extend curfew by two more hours nationwide protect the population from the “fragile” epidemic situation in which they find themselves, with an average of 16,000 daily cases of Covid-19, and the increase in cases in neighboring countries such as the United Kingdom, Germany and Italy. Thus, the measure will come into effect from 6:00 p.m. and not from 8:00 p.m. as before.

The objective of the government of Emmanuel Macron is to avoid a new total lock-up, in a country which already registers 2.83 million cases and 69,031 deaths.

The announcement was made by French Prime Minister Jean Castex, who explained that he was seeking to further restrict movement throughout the country due to the health context, given the circulation of new strains of coronavirus, detected in UK and South Africa, which already they entered the country, but still have a low circulation.

The curfew from the age of 18 was already in place in 25 of the 100 French departments and this weekend it will be extended to the whole country. Castex also announced that all travelers arriving in the country from outside the European Union must test negative before traveling to France and self-isolate for a week upon arrival, then perform a second test.

“The first data we have shows that we were able to spend the end of the year holidays without an epidemic rebound,” said Castex, who believed that the situation in the country is “under control” but remains “fragile”.

With a national daily average of around 16,000 new cases, Castex stressed that infections remain high and that these measures are aimed primarily at stopping the advance of the British variant, of which around 200 cases appear every day in France, and of South Africa, with a lower incidence.

The Prime Minister insisted on the fact that the establishment of a third containment was not part of the options of the French government for the moment, but did not exclude its application in the event of “strong deterioration” of the health situation .

Scientific studies indicate that the British variant is more contagious than the traditional variant among minors, the French executive has therefore chosen to strengthen the diagnosis in this age group by carrying out some 300,000 tests per week in schools but avoiding to suspend classes.