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Paris streets empty as COVID-19 curfew takes effect
Tuesday brought new freedoms for people in France because it was the end of a stay-at-home order. This had meant that, around the clock, people could only venture out for a limited time and for essential trips, to shop, or to exercise.
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A picture taken on Dec.15, 2020, in Paris shows a view of the deserted Maurice-Barres square and of a French fashion house and luxury goods Christian Dior shop illuminated for Christmas and New Year celebrations, as a new 8:00 pm-6:00am curfew is implemented in France to avoid a third wave of coronavirus infections. French don't longer need to fill out forms justifying their reason for leaving home but they are, however, subject to a new curfew as the country battles to avoid a third wave of coronavirus infections that could require an economically devastating third national lockdown. The curfew will be waived for Christmas Eve in order to allow families to travel to celebrate together but it will be kept in place for New Year's Eve.
(AFP/Alain Jocard)
B
outiques in the center of the French capital shut early and shoppers hurried home to meet a new 8 p.m. curfew that took effect on Tuesday to try to prevent a new spike in COVID-19 infections.
"I completely lost track of time and didn't realize it was so late," said 40-year-old Paris resident Jun, who was in the Opera district just before curfew. "I'm going to head home."
Around the usually bustling shopping district, shop fronts were dark and of the few people on the streets, most were heading towards the metro station.
Tuesday brought new freedoms for people in France because it was the end of a stay-at-home order. This had meant that, around the clock, people could only venture out for a limited time and for essential trips, to shop, or to exercise.
But that was replaced instead with a nightly curfew. From 8:00 p.m until 6 a.m. people can only go out for work, on official business, or for medical reasons. Anyone breaking curfew is liable for a 135 euro ($164) fine.
Officials have warned that they will be strictly enforcing the new rules. Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin on Tuesday evening joined a police patrol in Yvelines, west of Paris, to check that people were complying.
"The government has decided to be particularly tough on unlawful parties," the minister said.
Infection rates in France have declined sharply since the peak of the second wave last month. But scientists warn of the risk of a third wave of infection if people let down their guard during the Christmas and New Year holidays.
