France Imposes Lockdown For A Month As Third Wave Hits The Nation

The new restrictions imposed due to surge in Covid-19 cases will kick off from Friday midnight and remain in force for four weeks, but are less restrictive than measures imposed in March and November of last year.

Parisians walk across the river Seine in front of the Eiffel Tower on March 18, 2021 in Paris, France. Prime Minister Jean Castex announced a new four week lockdown for the French Capital. (Getty Images)

In a fresh wave of the viral disease spreading across the globe, French Prime Minister Jean Castex on Thursday imposed a month-long lockdown in 16 areas of the country, including the greater Paris and Nice areas.

Earlier, the PM has informed that France has entered `a kind of third wave` of Covid-19 infections in view of the surge in cases and numerous variants of the virus have affected the nation. Also Read: Maharashtra: 3 Lakh Active Covid-19 Cases Likely By April, State Ranks Second In Vaccination, Says Health Minister

"The pandemic is playing overtime. We are in what looks like a form of the third wave ... characterized by the variants," Castex had said, addressing the parliamentarians.

How will it impact the common man?

The new restrictions imposed due to the surge in Covid-19 cases will kick off from Friday midnight and remain in force for four weeks but are less restrictive than measures imposed in March and November of last year, as per the report in CNN.

"Our choice, to be less restrictive on possibilities to leave one`s home, will need to go hand in hand with real caution," Castex said.

The restrictions are aimed at preventing the spread of the virus by letting people go out of the home with strict compliance to Covid-19 guidelines.

"This is clearly about allowing for people to be outside, but not to go to friends` homes to have a party or meet with many people without social distancing or a face mask. We know that it is in that kind of situation that the virus prospers," he added.

Under the new restrictions, people will be encouraged to work from home and will be allowed to go outdoors to walk or exercise only after having an `approval certificate`.

They also cannot go further than 10 km from their home. The nighttime curfew - currently in effect from 6 pm - will be extended to 7 pm when the new measures are implemented, reported CNN.

All schools and universities will remain open and essential businesses will continue including book shops and music shops.

France has so far recorded a total of 4,241,959 infections and 91,833 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University (JHU).