France will extend an overnight curfew to dozens more areas in a bid to slow the spread of coronavirus, Prime Minister Jean Castex has announced. "The second wave is now under way," he said, adding that the situation in the country was "very serious".
The 21:00 to 06:00 curfew will come into force at midnight on Friday, and some 46 million people will now be affected by the measure.
Countries around Europe are struggling with rising infection rates.
France, Italy, Spain and the UK are all hotspots.
"The coming weeks will be hard and the number of deaths will continue to rise," Mr Castex told a press conference on Thursday.
"If we fail to stop the pandemic, we will be facing a dire situation and we will have to mull much tougher measures," he added.
"We still have time to avoid that but we don't have much time," he said.
The prime minister's announcement came less than a week after the same curfew was applied to the Paris region and eight other cities, including Marseille, Lyon, Lille and Toulouse.
The restrictions will be extended to 38 more administrative departments as well as the overseas territory of Polynesia, and will remain in place for six weeks.
The overnight curfew has drawn complaints from restaurant owners, whose businesses are already suffering after the two-month lockdown in the spring.
But President Emmanuel Macron has said they are necessary to avoid the risk of hospitals being overrun.
France has reported more than 20,000 new cases over the past six days, and the total number of confirmed infections is now more than 950,000.
Latest Stories
-
We didn’t sneak out 10 BVDs; they were auctioned as obsolete equipment – EC
3 hours -
King Charles to resume public duties after progress in cancer treatment
4 hours -
Arda Guler scores on first start in La Liga as Madrid beat Real Sociedad
4 hours -
Fatawu Issahaku’s Leicester City secures Premier League promotion after Leeds defeat
4 hours -
Anticipation builds as Junior Speller hosts nationwide auditions
5 hours -
Etse Sikanku: The driver’s mate conundrum
6 hours -
IMF Deputy Chief worried large chunk of Eurobonds is used to service debt
6 hours -
Otumfuo Osei Tutu II celebrates 25 years of peaceful rule on golden stool
6 hours -
We have enough funds to pay accruing benefits; we’ve never missed pension payments since 1991 – SSNIT
6 hours -
Let’s embrace shared vision and propel National Banking College – First Deputy Governor
7 hours -
Liverpool agree compensation deal with Feyenoord for Slot
7 hours -
Ejisu by-election: There’s no evidence of NPP engaging in vote-buying – Ahiagbah
7 hours -
Ejisu by-election: Independent ex-NPP MP’s campaign team warns party against dubious tactics
7 hours -
ZEN Petroleum supports Tse-Addo Future Leaders School
8 hours -
NPP must win back Adentan seat in 2024 polls – Obeng Fosu
8 hours