Castex said a new four-week lockdown will begin from 7pm tomorrow, but schools will remain open and confinement will be less strict than in previous nationwide lockdowns.

“The moment has come to go further, with more demanding restrictions where things are most critical,” he told a news conference today.

Essential goods shops, including bookstores, will remain open and outdoor activities will be allowed within a 10 km radius, but travelling to different regions will not be allowed without a compelling reason.

France has so far reported 4,181,607 confirmed coronavirus cases, with 34,998 deaths and 278,263 recoveries. (ILKHA)