As curfew from 6 p.m. has been extended to mainland France, many people are wondering if this new restriction will enable France to avoid a third lockdown. So far, all eyes are set on the latest data issued by the health authorities. Yesterday, France reported 23,608 new coronavirus cases in 24h; increasing indicators.
But member of the Scientific Committee Professor Arnaud Fontanet intended to sound reassuring on BFMTV, saying curfew was starting to be effective. Same assessment for Health Minister Olivier Véran who confirmed on January 19, 2021 that the curfew from 6 p.m. is starting to become apparent in the 15 departments it has been implemented back in early January.
It is necessary for this extended curfew to work out, Fontanet thinks. “We say curfews work, but they have not been implemented for long” and “it shall pay off and quick. […] Curfew from 6 p.m. is the last chance before lockdown” he warned on air.
Professor Fontanet also addressed the English variant that has the health authorities worried and that could “dominate” by mid-March. He says: “we may have two weeks to ‘walk on this ridge line’, test the last things we can do before heading towards another lockdown”. For the record, a third lockdown has been suggested by Prime Minister Jean Castex during his latest press brief in the event the “epidemic situation [was] dramatically degrading”.
