Paris coronavirus lockdown: City faces possible confinement as Covid sweeps Europe

Paris is in danger of going back into lockdown next week after the French government said the coronavirus pandemic was worsening in the capital. “Since yesterday, in the last 24 hours, Paris has passed the threshold that would put it in the maximum alert category,” French minister of Health Olivier Véran said Thursday evening. France’s “maximum alert” threshold is reached when the incidence rate reaches 250 per 100,000 people, at least 30% of intensive care beds are occupied by coronavirus patients, and the rate among the elderly passes 100 per 100,000. The Paris region had already fulfilled the last two criteria. Speaking from Bichat-Claude Bernard hospital in the city, Véran said that if the “evolution” was confirmed in the coming days, “we will not have any choice but to place Paris and its closest suburbs in maximum alert category as soon as Monday.” “We will re-examine indicators on Sunday, with the Paris mayor and elected officials,” he added. Aurelien Rousseau, head of the Paris region health authority, told radio station France Inter on Wednesday that 34% of intensive care beds were occupied by Covid-19 patients in the region and the incidence rate for people over 65 was more than 100 per 100,000 inhabitants. He said the rate was also very high for people between the ages of 20 and 30, at 450 cases per 100,000 people. Entering lockdown Marseille and France’s overseas department of Guadeloupe are already on “maximum alert,” meaning bars and restaurants were forced to close. According to the French health ministry, this alert level also means the closure of all establishments such as cinemas and museums unless they have strict and respected health protocols, and optional closure of beaches and lake areas. The only higher alert level is “State of Health Emergency.” Many business owners in Paris fear the long-lasting impact of closures, and have been protesting against existing restrictions. Paris was already on “enhanced alert,” with gatherings limited to 10 people and a 10 p.m. curfew for bars since Monday. The Paris police department said last week that businesses could be made to close if they failed to comply with the regulations. Masks are mandatory for pedestrians and scooter-riders in the region, and must be worn in all enclosed public spaces, including by school students over the age of 11. Cases in France rose by 13,970 on Thursday, taking the total to 577,505 with 32,019 deaths. Cases hit a record daily increase of 16,096 on September 24. The news comes after the Spanish government announced that Madrid was to be put back in lockdown, with people unable to leave or enter the area. Countries across Europe are re-imposing local lockdowns and new restrictions to fight the second wave of infection sweeping the continent, with households in the north of England banned from mixing indoors and the Dutch government making masks compulsory in all indoor public spaces. An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated who must wear masks outdoors in Paris. Only pedestrians and scooter-riders need wear them.

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Paris at risk of total lockdown as Europe cases rise