Coronavirus: France puts 46 million under night curfew

2020-10-23 12:07:35

The French government is imposing a curfew on two-thirds of the country - 46 million people - from Friday night for six weeks, after a record 41,622 new coronavirus infections in one day. The total infected in the epidemic has now passed one million. In Europe, only Spain and Russia have reached that. A week ago night curfews were introduced in Paris and eight other French cities. Now 38 more areas will have curfews from 21:00 to 06:00. Most of Europe has rising infections. Slovakia is to impose a partial lockdown for a week from Saturday, allowing only travel to work, shopping for essentials and school for younger children. New lockdowns have come into force in the Czech Republic and Republic of Ireland. There are also high infection rates in Belgium, Spain and Italy, putting many hospitals under severe pressure. Italy's Lazio and Campania regions begin night curfews on Friday, a day after one took effect in Lombardy in the north.