PM Jean Castex will speak in a few minutes but BFMTV is saying he will announce that home lockdown ends (as promised) on 15 Dec but high cases numbers mean that the replacement curfew will start at 8pm not 9pm (until 7 am).
What difference will an hour make? No idea. Perhaps there will be other restrictions...or no reopening of theattres, cinemas etc.
Castex starts by thanking French for their efforts and sacrifices. He says lower case figures have hit a plateau and even started to climb again. But same pattern seen elsewhere in Europe. Hands over to health minister Olivier Veran...
Veran says France's epidemic figures now better than most of its neighbours. But cases are climbing again ...14,000 today. He blames cold and humidity as well as relaxation of vigilance. Fr will NOT hit its 5,000 cases a day target.
France has however tonight met its other target of less than 3,000 patients in intensive care. But situation remains critical in east of country.
PM Castex again now....as a result of these stats, we must alter the promised measures for 15 December. We must do all we can to avoid a third wave ...
From 15 Dec, we go to a new stage but not exactly what was promised. Theatres, cinemas etc will remain closed for another 3 weeks. Increase in number of worshippers at religious services will not happen either.
As promise d lockdown will be lifted from 15 Dec but with a curfew starting at 8pm not 9pm.
Another change. The curfew will be suspended on Christmas Eve but NOT on New Year's Eve.
Travel anywhere within France WILL be allowed from 15 December.
From that date people can leave home when they wish (up to 8pm) and without having to fill in an attestation justifying their journey.i
To sum up...Home lockdown ends from 15 Dec but with a stricter curfew and nowhere much to go anyway. Theatres, cinemas, museums etc will remain closed until 6 January..
Castex concludes... We must remain careful. Virus has been checked but not defeated. He understands impatience but battle against Covid will be won by all of us. Finally...first months of next year will bring big improvements. Better tests, better tracing systems and vaccination.
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