The French government on Friday announced that it was bringing forward a nighttime curfew by two hours in 15 of the country’s administrative departments to help stem the spread of the novel coronavirus, as infections remain high.<\/p>\n
The 15 of France<\/a>‘s 101 departments affected by the switch to a curfew<\/a> beginning at 6pm rather than 8pm include the Les Alpes-Maritimes department where the Mediterranean city of Nice is located.<\/p>\n The other areas are concentrated in the east of the country and Paris has, for now, been spared the additional restriction.<\/p>\n “The virus<\/a> is continuing to spread in France… but with a disparity between regions,” said government spokesman Gabriel Attal as he announced the move.<\/p>\n “If the situation were to deteriorate further in certain areas, we will take the necessary decisions,” he told TF1 broadcaster<\/p>\n The measure had been urged by mayors increasingly concerned that their local health systems are being overburdened by an influx of new cases.<\/p>\n Attal also confirmed that theatres, cinemas and concert halls would not be able to reopen from January 7, the most recent minimum date given for their closure.<\/p>\n Attal meanwhile defended the pace of France’s campaign to vaccinate against Covid-19<\/a>, which TF1 noted has seen just 332 people vaccinated in the country so far compared with over 130,000 in Germany since it began last weekend.<\/p>\n Arguing that France was targeting its campaign on care homes for the elderly, which took more time, he said: “We are not going to judge a vaccination<\/a> campaign that will last six months in just a few days.”<\/p>\n