Deserted streets in Paris as French coronavirus curfew comes in

Daisy Lester
·2 min read
Champs-Elysees avenue empty during curfew in Paris as month long restrictions come into effect (AP)
Champs-Elysees avenue empty during curfew in Paris as month long restrictions come into effect (AP)

The first night of the French coronavirus curfew led to eerily quiet streets on Saturday night in Paris and eight other cities around the country.

It was the first day of the new government imposed lockdown in order to tackle rising infections in France.

The controversial 9pm until 6am curfew is set to last four weeks and was announced by French president Emmanual Macron on Wednesday to curb resurgent coronavirus.

New infections reached a new high on Saturday, with more than 30,000 infections in a day.

Macron said that the curfew was needed to prevent local hospitals becoming overrun.

Nearly 20 million citizens are covered by the curfew in France with deserted scenes observed in Marseille, Lyon, Lille and Toulouse.

The country has deployed an extra 12,000 police officers to enforce the new measures.

This has added to a despondency among bar and restaurant owners, whose sector has been devastated by lockdowns.

“I have the right to question the government's approach. I think it’s a catastrophic measure for the industry,” said Paris bistro owner Xavier Denamur.

Closed bars and cafes pictured on empty streets on the first night of the Coronavirus curfew on October 17, 2020 in ParisGetty Images
Closed bars and cafes pictured on empty streets on the first night of the Coronavirus curfew on October 17, 2020 in ParisGetty Images

Speaking to the Associated Press, Denamur said the curfew should not start before 11pm, adding “at least that would not destroy us. There’s no evidence that this difference of a couple of hours will have any effect on the virus circulating.”

France has seen over 33,000 confirmed deaths from coronavirus, the fourth highest death toll in Europe.

These new measures come as Italy, the first country significantly hit by the virus, is predicted to announce similar restrictions, as it also reported a record number of daily cases on Saturday.

The curfew has deepened fears among bar and restaurant owners and workers who contest the 9pm stipulationGetty Images
The curfew has deepened fears among bar and restaurant owners and workers who contest the 9pm stipulationGetty Images

Meanwhile, as cases continue to rise around Europe, Poland announced designated red zones where schools and gyms will close while it has been announced that schools in Italy’s southern Campania region will close for two weeks.

Last week, Slovakia’s prime minister Igor Matovic announced the country will test every person aged 10 and older for coronavirus amid a surge in cases while in Germany, Chancellor Angela Merkel has urged people to stay at home as virus cases rise.

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Paris curfew ordered amid massive coronavirus surge, Macron says