(UTV | FRANCE) – France has entered its third national lockdown as it battles a surge in cases of COVID-19 that threatens to overwhelm the country’s hospitals.
All schools and non-essential shops will shut for 4-weeks, and a curfew will be in place from 7.00 PM to 6:00 AM.
On Friday (02), the number of seriously ill COVID-patients in Intensive Care Units (ICU) increased by 145 – the biggest jump in 5-months.
President Emmanuel Macron has promised more hospital beds for COVID-patients.
France is currently battling a peak of about 5,000 COVID-patients in ICUs. On Friday, the country recorded 46,677 new cases and 304 deaths.
As well as the restrictions that came into force on Saturday (03), from Tuesday (06) people will also need a valid reason to travel more than 10 kilometres from their homes.