France Starts Gradual Rollback of Covid Restrictions Starting May 3

By Staff, Agencies

French Prime Minister Jean Castex outlines on Thursday a timetable for the gradual rollback of COVID-19 restrictions imposed to combat the pandemic, with the reopening of non-essential businesses and domestic travel "around May 3."

"The peak of the third wave of the epidemic seems behind us," with "a real drop in viral circulation for ten days," said the Prime Minister at a press conference.

France has also reached "the top of the wave of hospitalizations and we can hope for the start of an ebb in a few days," he added.

"From May 3 also, we will be able to remove the constraints of travel during the day and consider, subject to the evolution of the health situation, a new reopening... around mid-May which could start with shops, some cultural and sporting activities and the terraces" specified Castex.

The COVID-19 epidemic seems to be on a downward slope in France, but the strain on the health system remains strong, with 30,954 hospitalized patients, including almost 6,000 in intensive care, according to the latest figures.

Travel between regions is currently prohibited, with movement limited to 10 km during the day and a curfew in place between 7:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.