Covid France: 10 departments worsen, PM to update tomorrow

More local lockdowns may be needed in parts of France because of “worrying” Covid rates, it is feared

Government spokesman Gabriel Attal today said after a cabinet meeting that “the situation is getting worse and is very worrying in around ten departments”.

He said this “means fast and strong measures must be taken”.

Mr Attal cited incidence levels of the virus and hospitalisation numbers as being especially high in the regions of Hauts-de-France, Ile-de-France, Grand-Est and Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur.

Prime Minister Jean Castex will give a press conference tomorrow (Thursday) with an update, Mr Attal said.

It is expected to include the full list of the 10 departments concerned.

This comes as Health Minister Olivier Véran is expected shortly to arrive in Dunkirk in the Nord department, where cases have risen steeply linked to the ‘UK variant’. It now has an incidence rate of more than 900 per 100,000.

Read more: Government to consider local lockdown in northern France

Local authority the Communauté urbain de Dunkerque is waiting for the government’s instructions on what measures should be taken.

It is possible that a local lockdown similar to that being imposed on the Alpes-Maritimes’ coast for the next two weekends, will be brought in.

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