Lille (AFP)

Prime Minister Jean Castex on Monday called on the French and the state services to "not lower their guard" in the face of a resurgence of Covid-19, in order to avoid "a generalized reconfinement".

He was speaking from Lille where wearing a mask is now compulsory in certain "open public places" as elsewhere in the country. "The virus is not on vacation, and neither are we." "We must protect ourselves against this virus, especially without bringing economic and social life to a halt, that is to say by avoiding the prospect of generalized re-containment," he explained.

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