France reimposes Covid state of emergency with Paris under 9pm curfew

Firefighters wearing protective suits handle tests carried out in Montpellier

Credit: PASCAL GUYOT/AFP via Getty Images

French President Emmanuel Macron said on Wednesday that nightly curfews will be imposed in Paris and other major cities to try to curb the spread of the Covid-19 epidemic as a state of emergency is reimposed.

The curfews will take effect from Saturday, and will run daily from 9:00pm until 6:00am the following morning, Macron said in an interview broadcast on national television.

The curfews will remain in force for four weeks, he said. 

The move to reinstate a state of health emergency that expired on July 10 will allow the government to enforce stricter measures in the future, either locally or nationally. 

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France initially declared a state of health emergency in March, paving the way for the government to oblige citizens to stay home in lockdown. Mr Macron is addressing the nation on television Wednesday night and could address further measures.

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