French President Macron could announce a new nationwide lockdown today as a growing wave of anti-lockdown protests sweep Europe. The Fre...
French President Macron could announce a new nationwide lockdown today as a growing wave of anti-lockdown protests sweep Europe.
The French government is envisaging a month-long national lockdown to combat the coronavirus resurgence which could take effect from midnight on Thursday, France's BFM TV reported yesterday.
Macron is due to make a televised address at 8pm today which is expected to see a national lockdown imposed or a host of local measures and curfews extended.
His office did not comment on whether Macron would announce such a measure then.
The national lockdown under consideration would be 'more flexible' than the strict restrictions on movement imposed in France in March this year, reported BFM TV.
France has had a big spike in the number of daily deaths from COVID-19, recording an additional 523 deaths in 24 hours this evening, the highest daily death total since April.
The French government also reported an additional 33,417 new infections.
Spain and Italy have both seen infections increase to record levels along with those in France, Britain and other countries, although the Czech Republic and Belgium have the highest rates of any major countries in Europe
Customers are seen outside 'Le recrutement' restaurant few minutes before the nightly curfew imposed to curb the spread of the coronavirus in Paris, France, October 27
Passengers wearing protective masks walk in the corridors of the Paris metro shortly before the 9pm city-wide night time curfew, October 27
Vehicles drive ahead of the night-time curfew next to Arc de Triomphe in Paris as the French government begins to envisage a month-long national lockdown
Revellers enjoy a drink at a restaurant shortly before the 9pm city-wide night time curfew during the coronavirus pandemic
A group of people sit outside a restaurant to enjoy a drink before the 9pm city-wide night time curfew in Paris, France
Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin told French citizens to 'expect difficult decisions' ahead of the announcement today by Macron.
Macron is hosting two emergency Defense Council meetings to discuss further restrictions against a second wave of the virus.
Schools could remain open even as restrictions on people's movements become more severe, BFM TV added.
Sources familiar with the government's thinking said earlier this week that options being envisaged for some areas included confining people to their homes at weekends, closing non-essential shops and starting curfew measures earlier.
It comes as the number of people currently hospitalised in the nation increased by 1,194 from Monday to Tuesday, bringing the total to 18,978.
French government spokesman Gabriel Attal said: 'Nobody disagrees with our objective, which is to absolutely prevent our hospitals being in a situation where they can't admit new patients.'
Whilst France's 9pm curfews imposed on many of the largest cities including Paris, Saint-Etienne, Toulouse and Lyon, has kept anti-lockdown protests at bay, other European cities have seen demonstrators turn violent.
A wave of anti-lockdown protests have swept Europe as governments impose harsher lockdowns to curb the resurgence of coronavirus
A far right demonstrator holds an Italian flag during a protest over the restrictions put in place to curb the coronavirus disease infections in Rome, Italy
People light flares as they protest against the government restriction measures to curb the spread of COVID-19, in Rome
March and protests against the new provisions for the fight against coronavirus in Rome
Demonstrations against the restrictions the national and local government have put in place to contain the spread of the Covid-19 epidemic in Naples, Italy, October 26
In Italy, violence was reported in at least two major northern cities, Milan and Turin, as vast crowds protested freedom-limiting restrictions enforced to tackle a second surge in coronavirus cases.
Witnesses said a number of luxury stores, including a Gucci shop, were ransacked in central Turin as crowds of youths took to the streets after nightfall, letting off huge firecrackers and lighting coloured flares.
Far right demonstrators clashed with police in Rome as they took to the streets to protests against the coronavirus restrictions.
The Government is now considering further restrictions including early closures of bars and restaurants to contain a resurgence of the pandemic.
Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte has said he wants to avoid a repeat of the blanket lockdown earlier in the year. But a number of regions have imposed overnight curfews and the central government is expected to announce more measures soon.
In Milan at least 28 people were arrested after protesters threw Molotov cocktails at police in the capital of Lombardy, the original epicentre of the virus in Italy which is now seeing a resurgence of cases.
Meanwhile in Barcelona, demonstrators set rubbish bins on fire in the streets - before riot police intervened to bring the chaos to an end.
The demonstrations came just one day after Spain declared a second nationwide state of emergency covering all regions except the Canary Islands.
Spain and Italy have both seen infections increase to record levels over the last week along with those in France, Britain and other countries, although the Czech Republic and Belgium have the highest rates of any major countries in Europe.
Earlier this month, France surpassed one million confirmed coronavirus cases since the start of the pandemic, becoming the second country in Western Europe after Spain to reach the mark.
French President Emmanuel Macron called on citizens to respect a nightly curfew and other measures to fight the rapid spread of the coronavirus.
It came as protestors set garbage cans on fire and clashed with police in Naples, Italy, as a curfew was imposed to curb the growing spread of coronavirus.
WHO figures say Europe is now accounting for nearly half of the world's new cases, partly because of mass testing
Italian police use a water cannon to disperse demonstrators at Piazza del Popolo during a protest against the lockdown measures for COVID-19, on October 28, in Rome, Italy
The protests were organized by far-right parties to protest against the lockdown imposed in Italy to contain the coronavirus pandemic. Italy registered over 21,000 new infections and 221 deaths in the last 24 hours. Rome, Italy, October 28
Italian police at Piazza del Popolo, Rome, during protests organized by far-right parties to protest against the lockdown imposed in Italy, October 28
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