Curfew at 18:00 for whole of France from Saturday

Prime Minister Jean Castex has announced that a 18:00 to 06:00 curfew will apply to the whole of France beginning on Saturday, January 16.

This longer curfew is already in place in 25 departments in the east of the country and will now replace the 20:00 to 06:00 curfew in place in the rest of France.

The new measures will remain for at least 15 days.

The prime minister made the announcement during a televised press conference this evening (January 14).

He said that the effectiveness of a curfew beginning at 18:00 has been confirmed by the Conseil Scientifique, a body that advises the government on Covid-related matters. He said in the areas where the 18:00 curfew has been in place since January 2, the increase in new Covid-19 cases is two or three times less than in other departments.

The exceptions to the curfew will remain the same as for the current measures. An attestation (printed or digital) will continue to be needed with one of the accepted reasons to be outside crossed.

All shops and businesses receiving the public will have to close by 18:00.

Mr Castex ruled out another national lockdown - for the moment.

“I want to be perfectly clear with you. At the moment I'm talking to you, the health situation does not require us to establish a new lockdown,” he said. However he said it would be an option should there be a significant deterioration in the health situation and the ability for hospitals to cope.

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