France is entering a new phase of heavy COVID-19 restrictions, even though there are protests against the closure across Europe.
Residents of Paris and the north of France must obtain permission to walk more than 6 kilometers from their home from Friday night; non-essential shops were closed; and travel between regions is reportedly prohibited ‘without a compelling reason’.
“The situation is deteriorating,” Prime Minister Jean Castex said, citing rising COVID-19 infection rates.
But the French government supports more restrictive measures that were only offered on Thursday, perhaps in response to growing outrage over the closure in Europe.
Austria, England, Germany, Finland, Romania and Switzerland have all seen protests over the past few days.
Kassel, Germany, protested 20,000 people on Saturday while 1,800 police officers waited for a possible protest in Berlin, reports The Associated Press. According to Reuters, up to 10,000 people protested on Saturday and 13 were arrested in London.