PARIS: The French government announced increased police checks on Friday to enforce travel restrictions in place in Paris and several other regions as coronavirus instances continue to soar around the nation.
Checks at train stations, airports, and motorway tolls will “increase from immediate effect”, the prime minister’s office mentioned, describing the situation as “critical” amid the arrival of the 3rd wave of infections.
Around 20 million individuals in France, including those within the Paris region, are classed as residing in high-infection zones where they are not allowed to travel further than 10 kilometers (six miles) from their home unless they have an essential reason.
Everyday cases in France have nearly doubled since the beginning of the month, reaching over 45,000 on Thursday, with the number of individuals in intensive care in hospital now almost the same level as during the second wave in November.
In Paris, the pressure on hospitals is even greater, with non-essential surgeries being canceled and patients transferred to other regions because of the rapid spread of the more contagious British variant.
Nearly one in every 170 individuals is currently infected within the capital region, official data reveals.
“These coming weeks will be difficult. We’ll take effective measures at the right time and to my thoughts, there are no taboos,” Macron mentioned, appearing not to rule out another national lockdown if necessary.
Last Thursday, the government announced new curbs for Paris as well as areas within the north and southeast that have led to non-essential shops close and travel restrictions.
But schools are open and individuals are allowed to leave their homes for as long as they like.
Prime Minister Jean Castex called it a “third way”.
Many medical consultants take into account the restrictions not robust sufficient.
France’s vaccination campaign has also been sluggish amid a chronic shortage of doses, with only around 10 p.c of the population having received at least one dose.
The top health watchdog recommended offering the jabs to dentists and vets on Friday in a modest widening of the eligibility criteria, with the focus till now on vaccinating the over-75s, medical personnel, and those with existing health problems.
