The French government had been trying to stem Covid-19’s resurgence with regional measures – but now across the country non-essential businesses are closed and people’s trips are limited to a 10km radius around their homes.

The definition of essential businesses is far more expansive than it was during the strict first lockdown in spring 2020: Bookshops, hairdressers, florists chocolate shops, music shops and car dealerships can all remain open.

The 6am-7pm curfew was extended to all of mainland France and Corsica.

Travel between different French regions has been banned for the duration of the nationwide light lockdown – unless people have a “compelling” or work-related reason for it.

Unveiling the measures on March 31, French President Emmanuel Macron also announced that schools will be closed starting from Tuesday – for three weeks for nursery and primary school pupils and four weeks for middle and high-school students. The “French exception” of keeping schools open since the end of the first lockdown in spring 2020 had received intensifying criticism over the previous weeks.

The French government had been trying to stem Covid-19’s resurgence with regional measures – but now across the country non-essential businesses are closed and people’s trips are limited to a 10km radius around their homes.

The definition of essential businesses is far more expansive than it was during the strict first lockdown in spring 2020: Bookshops, hairdressers, florists chocolate shops, music shops and car dealerships can all remain open.

The 6am-7pm curfew was extended to all of mainland France and Corsica.

Travel between different French regions has been banned for the duration of the nationwide light lockdown – unless people have a “compelling” or work-related reason for it.

Unveiling the measures on March 31, French President Emmanuel Macron also announced that schools will be closed starting from Tuesday – for three weeks for nursery and primary school pupils and four weeks for middle and high-school students. The “French exception” of keeping schools open since the end of the first lockdown in spring 2020 had received intensifying criticism over the previous weeks.

Macron pledged more hospital beds to care for critically ill Covid-19 patients in his March 31 televised address.

More about: France   coronavirus