« I’m asking for a very big effort, let’s hold out for 15 days. If within 15 days, we can better control the situation, we can then reassess things and hopefully open some shops, especially in this important period before the Christmas holidays, » he said.
France’s COVID-19 deaths are currently at the highest level since the peak of the pandemic in April and 33,000 new cases of the virus recorded on Tuesday.
Macron’s address comes just hours after Germany announced a limited lockdown to begin on November 2, which will see restaurants, bars and theatres close. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said that the measures were an attempt to avoid « an acute national health emergency ».
Germany reported 15,000 new cases on Wednesday, a record for the nation, which had fared better than its neighbours over the summer and avoided a total lockdown on the model of the UK and France.
Also on Wednesday, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen warned that Europeans would experience a « different Christmas » this year. “We are deep in the second wave, » she said.
Notis©2020
By Sidney Usher
Sources: ECDC
