Easy-look graph: The evolution of Covid-19 cases in France

France’s second national lockdown of 2020 ended today (December 15), despite the target of fewer than an average of 5,000 daily Covid-19 cases not being reached.

The below image shows the evolution of cases in France since May. 

When the second lockdown was introduced at the end of October, over 50,000 cases of the virus were being recorded every day. 

That number has now significantly dropped, but remains higher than the target of 5,000, set by President Emmanuel Macron on November 24 as a stipulation for the lockdown to end.

The country is still regularly recording figures of over 10,000 per day. 

Due to the target not being reached, the government has introduced stricter post-lockdown measures than planned.

A curfew has now come into effect, beginning at 20:00 rather than 21:00 as initially stated. 

There will be an exemption to the curfew on December 24 only, allowing families and friends to celebrate Christmas together. There will be no exemption on December 31, as was initially stated. 

Cinemas, theatres, museums and casinos, which were supposed to re-open, remain closed. The government has said this rule will be reviewed on January 7, 2021. 

Read more:

Covid France: What you can (and cannot) do from December 15

Easy-look guide for going out during curfew hours in France