France eyes stricter lockdown as Covid-19 patients in intensive care near 5,000 - FRANCE24

 

French health authorities said on Monday that the number of patients in intensive care with Covid-19 increased by 102 to 4,974, more than the 4,919 high of the second lockdown in mid-November.

This week will be decisive for the strategy overseen by President Emmanuel Macron and his government who argue that every day without a lockdown is a bonus for France, which they see as exhausted after a year of restrictions.

New tougher measures were introduced on March 20 covering around a third of the population, including the Paris region, but the government stopped short of full stay-at-home orders with many shops still open and people allowed to meet outside in small groups.

Pressure is now rising to close schools and go further, with many medics and epidemiologists warning the disease is out of control...