New lockdown is ‘the very last option’ for France, finance minister says as top doctor warns not doing so is ‘too big’ a risk — RT

 The French government remains divided on whether to implement a third national lockdown, with the country’s finance minister calling it “the very last option” which would be very harmful for France’s economy.

Speaking to RTL radio on Monday, Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire argued that the existing 6pm to 6am curfew measures are delivering results in containing the virus. A full-blown lockdown, which would be the third one for France over the course of the coronavirus pandemic, must be implemented only when all the other options are exhausted.

“Lockdown can only be the very last option, when all the others have been used, because lockdown puts pressure on the morale of the French… it also puts pressure on public finances,” the minister stated.

A full lockdown would cost France’s economy around €15 billion ($18.1 billion) a month, while the existing curfew measures only cost around €6 billion, Le Maire said...