France likely to have to take tougher measures due to virus variants

PARIS (Reuters) - France will likely have to consider more restrictions on people's movements soon to limit the spread of the UK and South African variants of the coronavirus, Jean-François Defraissy, head of the scientific council advising the government on the epidemic said on Tuesday.

"There will probably be -- and these are political decisions -- a certain number of tougher measures to take," Defraissy told TF1 television.

The government is currently pondering whether to impose a third national lockdown or extend a 6 p.m curfew now imposed in some areas to the whole of France.

Delfraissy declined to say which measures he was backing.

(Reporting by Dominique Vidalon)