France eyes end of restrictions as COVID-19 case numbers fall

France has lifted the last of coronavirus restrictions on Wednesday, the last of four steps in President Emmanuel Macron’s reopening agenda set in late April.

After curfew ended 10 days ago, this new and final step towards normality will see restrictions lifted on all establishments, including restaurants, bars, cinemas, shops, museums, hotels, libraries, churches, gyms, public administration. Nightclubs will be allowed to reopen on 9 July.

Open air sports events, festivals and concerts will also be allowed to resume as of Wednesday with participants needing to show evidence of a negative test, recovery, or vaccination if the event welcomes more than 1,000 attendees.

This last round of loosening restrictions comes into effect as the number of COVID-19 cases continues its downward trend, with 509 new positive cases registered on Monday – a success widely attributed to the vaccination campaign. Vaccination has slowed in recent weeks as fewer people register to get the jab.

“We can do much better,” Prime Minister Jean Castex told the public last week, announcing a “consolidated action plan” to fight against the rise of infections due to the Delta variant.

(Magdalena Pistorius | EURACTIV.fr)