Covid lockdown France: 100,000 police checks at weekend, 16,000 fines

France’s Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin has said that people in France are “enormously respecting the rules” with regard to Covid-19 restrictions but that there will be no let up in police checks.

There are an average of 100,000 police controls taking place around the country each weekend, he told radio network RTL in an interview today (April 20). 16,000 fines were given to people for breaking Covid-related rules last weekend.

Mr Darmanin said that the vaccination rollout gives hope of the situation improving in the coming weeks.

“We have vaccinated over 12 million people so we see the arrival of this hope,” he said.

President Emmanuel Macron has expressed his wish to reopen certain establishments, such as museums and café and restaurant terraces, by mid-May.

Macron: Terraces and museums to reopen from mid-May across France

They have been closed since October 30, 2020.

Mr Darmanin was asked during the interview if he intended to introduce more restrictions with the weather improving in the country and people spending more time outside.

“Good weather is when to spend more time outside, it contaminates less,” he said.

He stated that extra measures would be added and referenced the temporary ban on flights between Brazil and France as an example without giving further details.

He also stated his concern at the number of people in intensive care units in France due to Covid-19, saying the wards have been very impacted.

There are just under 6,000 patients in ICU due to Covid-19.

Mr Darmanin said that in his department, the Nord, there were more people in ICU today than during the first wave of Covid-19 in spring 2020.

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