Border restrictions, closure of shopping malls... Jean Castex's announcements

A new Health Defense Council took place this Friday January 29, 2021. Jean Castex then spoke at the end of the council to announce the latest decisions made by the government that keeps on monitoring the evolution of the pandemic in France.

• Working from home is reinforced in companies
• Non-food shopping malls must close starting Sunday January 31
• France closes its borders to non-EU countries
• Controls are reinforced

After curfew from 6 p.m. extended to the entire country, rumors about an unavoidable lockdown are spreading. We are expecting for instating stronger restrictions for February to halt the spread of the epidemic. Even though the French government would like to avoid a third lockdown, the idea seems already official in many people, getting ready to have to limit their trips.

• To be read
• Covid and lockdown: when will the next measures be announced by the government?
• Covid and health restrictions: the 3 scenarios considered by the government in the face of the 3rd wave
• Lockdown: the Parliament soon to debate and vote, Castex says

So far, February break "is to go as planned", National Education Minister Jean-Michel Blanquer says. And if a new lockdown was to be implemented, schools might remain open.

The latest Defense Council took place earlier this week, on January 27. And after that, the Prime Minister made no special statement, thinking that curfew should be given time to be effective.