TThe French city of Nice on the Riviera announced new restrictions on Friday, banning group and family gatherings of more than 10 people in an effort to stop the rise in coronavirus cases. David Chazan Reports from Paris.
Local authorities also announced a ban on live music in pubs, stricter rules on outdoor alcohol consumption, and a “suspension” of visits by elderly people in nursing homes in the city.
Other borders are similar to those announced earlier this week in Marseille and Bordeaux. All three cities have now reduced the maximum number of people allowed to attend sports matches or other public events from 5,000 to 1,000.
Bernard Gonzalez, Governor of Nice, urged people to exercise “utmost caution in family gatherings to protect the most vulnerable.”
Lyon, which has around 200 cases per 100,000 people, is set to announce new restrictions on Monday, while Paris has also emerged as a virus hotspot, and local authorities are considering tighter restrictions.
France reported 50 Covid-19 deaths on Thursday, for a total of more than 31,000 deaths since the outbreak began.
The government says it will avoid a lockdown that could cripple France’s already ailing economy.
