To fight against the coronavirus epidemic, and in particular the risk generated by the British variant, the government has decided to tighten the screw again.
The national curfew will therefore begin at 6 p.m. from Saturday in mainland France.
In addition, the schools remain open but the health protocol is reinforced.
An early curfew at 6 p.m. extended to the entire territory.
This is the main measure announced by Prime Minister Jean Castex, accompanied by six ministers, to deal with a "controlled but fragile" health situation in France, while the impact of the British variant of Covid, the VOC 2020, remains still difficult to measure.
As expected, Jean Castex therefore announced at a press conference that the curfew was advanced to 6 p.m. from this Saturday for all French people.
So far, 25 departments were affected by this measure.
>> LIVE -
Coronavirus: follow the evolution of the situation Thursday, January 14
An early curfew at 6 p.m. throughout the metropolitan area
A curfew at 6 p.m. will be put in place from Saturday "for at least 15 days" throughout the metropolitan territory to deal with the Covid-19 epidemic, Prime Minister Jean Castex said on Thursday .
"The number of new cases has been lower since the beginning of January in the departments which were already affected by this advanced curfew. In addition, the circulation of the virus is no longer restricted to the east of France as at the end of December but equal on the whole territory, hence the usefulness of an enlargement of the measure "justified the Prime Minister.
"Except for the exceptions linked to public service missions, all places, businesses or services open to the public will be closed at 6 pm," said the head of government.
To avoid customer concentrations, Jean Castex reminded businesses of the possibilities of opening up to "lunch breaks, or even on Sundays, depending on local consultations with the prefects".
Nevertheless, the Prime Minister warned that the curfew could give way "without delay" to a new containment in the event of "severe epidemic deterioration".
The last time a large-scale curfew was put in place, in the fall, it had lasted just seven days before being replaced by national lockdown.
A negative test required for all travelers arriving in France from a country outside the EU
As of Monday, the conditions for entering the territory will be sharply tightened.
All travelers wishing to come to France from a country outside the European Union will have to undergo an on-site test before being able to enter the territory.
These people will also have to "undertake on the honor to isolate themselves for seven days once they arrive in France, then to repeat a second PCR test at the end", added the Prime Minister.
Travelers from certain countries of the European Union will not be affected at this time.
Regarding Overseas Territories, tests will now be mandatory when returning from these destinations to France - this was not the case until now -, as when leaving the metropolis.
CORONAVIRUS ESSENTIALS
> What place for teleworking after the coronavirus?
> Are adolescents vectors of contamination?
> Advice from a psychotherapist to get through this period as well as possible
> How does "CleanCovid", the anti-coronavirus lamp work
> How will the citizens' committee responsible for monitoring vaccination work?
Schools remain open, but the health protocol is reinforced
If the British variant is "potentially more contagious in children", according to the Minister of Health Olivier Véran, schools nevertheless remain open.
But the sanitary protocol in the canteens is reinforced.
The Minister of National Education Jean-Michel Blanquer announced that "each class will eat together at the same table, so as not to have any mixing. As a last resort, we can also have take-out meals".
In addition, indoor and extra-curricular sports activities are suspended until further notice.
In addition, a massive testing campaign will be carried out in schools and should make it possible to screen up to one million children and teachers per month.
In addition, first-year university students will be able to resume face-to-face tutorials in half-groups from January 25, announced Jean Castex.
This measure will then extend, "if the health situation allows it, to students of other levels," added the Prime Minister, expressing the "concern" of the government at the "deep feeling of isolation, but also the real difficulties pedagogical "of students.
Moreover, the number of psychologists in universities will be doubled this semester.
Vaccination open to anyone with high-risk pathologies from Monday
Vaccination is extended from Monday to people of all ages with a pathology at very high risk of developing serious forms of Covid-19, or around 800,000 people.
"For all these people, they will need a prescription from their doctor," said Olivier Véran.
In total, 6.4 million French people can be vaccinated as of January 18.
To cope with this influx of potential patients, 700 vaccination centers will be opened on the same date.
The doses to vaccinate 2.5 million people in France should be available by the end of February.
"If it takes time, be reassured, you will be vaccinated,"
reassured the Minister of Health, who believes that adherence to vaccination is increasingly important.
Each vaccination center open on Monday will be able to make appointments for the next four weeks, he said finally.
4 billion euros per month more to support businesses
"If it is not possible to give visibility on a timetable for ending the crisis", Bruno Le Maire wanted to "give visibility on economic support" to French companies.
To do this, the government puts "4 billion euros per month" on the table every month.
In detail, “four major changes” will take place within the framework of the Solidarity Fund.
"Take-out sales and home deliveries will not be included in the reference turnover for the calculation of the amount of the aid," said the Minister of the Economy.
A rule that applies retroactively from the month of December 2020.
In addition, suppliers in the catering sector who show a loss of 70% in turnover will be entitled to aid as a percentage of their turnover, up to 20% within the limit of 200,000 euros per month.
This measure is also applicable from December 2020, is no longer subject to a limit on the number of employees, "and is currently capped at 3 million euros over the period from January to June 2021".
The Minister also announced that the fixed costs of closed businesses supported up to 70%.
As for the repayments of loans guaranteed by the State, companies will have "the right" to benefit from one more year.
By setting up the EMP at the start of the health crisis, the state had introduced a one-year period before banks could demand repayment of loans.
This period was therefore initially due to expire at the end of March for some companies, while many of them are still experiencing financial difficulties.