The French authorities have made a decision not to wait for irreversible consequences of the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic. As a result, France was one of the first European countries to announce a national lockdown. Restrictions came into force in early November. So far, it is not clear whether these measures will be effective.
The lockdown rules in France are not limited by wearing masks only. On top of that, the country closed borders between provinces and set a requirement for those leaving their houses. They are now obliged to obtain a written permission if they want to go outside. "The virus is circulating at a speed that not even the most pessimistic forecasts had anticipated", President Emmanuel Macron warned French citizens. Macron underlined that daily coronavirus infections had more than doubled in a week and said that the second wave would be harder and more deadly than the first one.
The introduction of a second lockdown in France is a necessity given the local statistics on COVID-19 cases. A great number of experts, even those who previously openly opposed any kind of restrictions, acknowledge the importance of self-isolation.
Elsewhere, Chancellor Angela Merkel announced one-month tough new measures in Germany, while British Prime Minister Boris Johnson declared a return to a full national lockdown in England. Italy is likely to follow their lead in the near future.
