Airlines canceled more than 1,100 US flights on Monday
France will tighten restrictions but will not impose curfews or lockdowns ahead of New Year’s Eve celebrations, despite reporting record new coronavirus cases, French Prime Minister Jean Castex announced at a news conference on Monday.
“At this stage, our will is to adapt our plans in a proportionate way that allows us to rule out any curfew measure,” Castex said after a special health defense council meeting.
Starting on Jan. 3, France will introduce several restrictions for a duration of three weeks, such as banning eating and drinking inside cinemas, theaters, sports events or on-board public transportation, including long-distance transport.
Large gatherings outdoor and indoor will be restricted to 5,000 and 2,000 participants respectively, while standing concerts will be canceled. Customers willing to dine at a restaurant or café will have to be seated.
Working from home will also be made mandatory “when possible” for at least three days per week, and Castex said it’s up to local leaders to decide if mask-wearing mandates outdoors should be brought back for city centers.
Castex reiterated the government’s position that vaccinations are the key to get through this pandemic, which he described as “a never-ending film.”
Starting tomorrow, the required time needed between your last shot and booster dose will be shortened to three months.
The government also expects a new law, that will turn the country’s health pass into a vaccine pass, to come into effect starting on Jan. 15. It will effectively ban unvaccinated people from going to public places such as cinemas, theaters, restaurants and cafés.
More than 51 million people, or 76.6% of the total population, in France have been fully vaccinated and more than 22 million have received their booster shot as of today.
France reported a record-breaking 104,611 covid infections on Christmas Day, the first time that case numbers crossed the 100,000 threshold since the beginning of the pandemic, according to Health Ministry data.
The government will re-evaluate the Covid-19 situation at the next health defense council on Jan. 5.
