"This Time France Is in Crisis"... Considering Weekend Curfew Following Nighttime Curfew

French Government to Announce Additional Measures on 28th
Analysis Suggests Actual New Cases Reach 100,000
"Government and Citizens Were Too Complacent," Critics Say

[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] This time, France is in crisis. As the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) hits Europe hard, France is emerging as the epicenter. France, which has implemented a nighttime curfew, is now considering a ban on weekend travel as well.

The scene of Paris, France during the lockdown in March this year [Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

According to the international statistics site Worldometer on the 27th (local time), France reported 33,417 new COVID-19 cases. On the 25th, 52,010 new cases were recorded in France, indicating a situation beyond serious. Especially looking at the seven-day average of new cases to observe the trend, as of the 27th, France had 38,278 new cases, which is a 50% increase compared to a week earlier.

According to The Wall Street Journal (WSJ), despite various measures such as nighttime curfews, the spread of COVID-19 in France has not slowed, prompting consideration of additional measures. Currently, in major cities like Paris, a nighttime curfew is in effect from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m.

The French government is currently reviewing measures to expand the nighttime curfew and to restrict weekend movement in areas with severe outbreaks. This is based on the judgment that citizens should be encouraged to stay at home as much as possible to prevent further spread. French President Emmanuel Macron is expected to announce additional measures to prevent further spread on the 28th.

Besides France, European countries are increasingly caught in a dilemma as COVID-19 cases surge. There is considerable resistance to lockdown policies that effectively halted economic activity earlier this year, causing economic growth rates to fall to levels comparable to World War II. However, with the recent surge in cases and the possibility of healthcare system collapse being raised, the sense of crisis has intensified.

In particular, within France, there is analysis suggesting that the actual number of COVID-19 cases far exceeds the official counts. Jean-Fran?ois Delfraissy, who advises the French government on COVID-19 measures, stated, "The actual number of COVID-19 cases is increasing by nearly 100,000, and the upward trend may continue," adding, "The second wave is worse than the first wave."

Experts analyze that the reason France is facing such a severe crisis is due to a delayed initial response to the COVID-19 spread. In France, the number of new cases dropped to around 400 per day this summer, successfully curbing the spread, but failed to maintain this control. Citizens did not follow recommendations such as social distancing. WSJ pointed out that the practice of cheek kissing, known as "bisous," has reappeared in France.

Experts also express concern that the nighttime curfew measures are "too late and insufficient." They point out that "citizens are still continuing social activities."

France has maintained a relatively low death rate compared to the number of COVID-19 cases. However, concerns remain that this cannot be taken for granted. As cases increase, hospitalizations are also rising. Some hospitals have reported that "beds are gradually filling up."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.