France: Bars and restaurants to close in four cities October 10 /update 46

Event

The French government will impose tighter restrictions in Lyon (Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region), Lille (Hauts-de-France region), Grenoble (Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region), and Saint-Étienne (Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region) from Saturday, October 10, due to rising coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases. The four cities will become zones of maximum alert from Saturday, and as has previously happened in Paris and Marseilles, restaurants and bars will be closed for at least two weeks. Gyms and swimming pools are also likely to be closed and other public venues will have to operate under strict hygiene protocols. A ban on gatherings of more than ten people and a limit of 1000 attendees at organized events will remain in place in these areas. Gatherings are also restricted in cities in enhanced alert zones (one level below maximum alert), including Bordeaux, Montpellier, Nice, Rennes, Rouen, and Toulouse.

Amid the rising number of COVID-19 cases, Paris' hospitals moved into emergency mode on Thursday, October 8, as COVID-19 patients took up more than half of all intensive care beds in the capital.

Face masks are mandatory nationwide in enclosed public spaces, including work places. A number of local jurisdictions, including Paris, have also mandated the wearing of face masks in outdoor public spaces. Most businesses and services outside the maximum alert zones are permitted to operate, provided they comply with hygiene and social distancing requirements.

As of Friday, October 9, the total number of confirmed cases in France stands at 711,704 with 32,539 associated fatalities. Further international spread of the virus is expected in the near term.

Context

The first case of COVID-19 was reported on December 31 and the source of the outbreak has been linked to a wet market in Wuhan (Hubei province, China). Since then, human-to-human transmission of the virus has been confirmed.

Cases of the virus have been confirmed in numerous countries and territories worldwide. On March 11, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the global outbreak a pandemic. Virus-screening and quarantining measures are being implemented at airports worldwide, as well as extensive travel restrictions.

The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, dry cough, and tiredness. Some patients may experience other symptoms such as body pains, nasal congestion, headache, conjunctivitis, sore throat, diarrhea, loss of taste or smell, or a rash on the skin or discoloration of fingers or toes. These symptoms (in most cases mild) appear gradually. Generally, most patients (around 80 percent) recover from the disease without being hospitalized.

Advice

Measures adopted by local authorities evolve quickly and are usually effective immediately. Depending on the evolution of the outbreak in other countries, authorities are likely to modify, at very short notice, the list of countries whose travelers are subject to border control measures or entry restrictions upon their arrival to the territory in question. It is advised to postpone nonessential travel due to the risk that travelers may be refused entry or be subject to quarantine upon their arrival or during their stay.

To reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission, travelers are advised to abide by the following measures:

• Frequently clean hands by applying an alcohol-based hand rub or washing with soap and water.
• When coughing and sneezing, cover mouth and nose with a flexed elbow or tissue; if used, throw the tissue away immediately and wash hands.
• If experiencing a fever, cough, difficulty breathing, or any other symptoms suggestive of respiratory illness, including pneumonia, call emergency services before going to the doctor or hospital to prevent the potential spread of the disease.