This weekend, Pas-de-Calais was put into partial lockdown, as well as Nice and Dunkirk. Are other departments about to join them soon, as 23 departments are currently placed under strengthened surveillance? Among them, all Île-de-France departments, namely Paris, Hauts-de-Seine, Seine-Saint-Denis, Val-de-Marne, Essonne, Seine-et-Marne, Yvelines, and Val-d’Oise.
So far, the Île-de-France area managed to escape weekend lockdown, but new restrictions have been made. In Paris, alcohol consumption is banned in several highly-crowded areas. In Yvelines, facemask-wearing is now compulsory everywhere. Shopping malls and non-food department stores over 10,000sqm must close as well.
But are new restrictions to be expected? Yes, according to Île-de-France region vice-president Alexandra Dublanche. She says: “restrictions are to be expected in the coming weeks”. This is what she said this March 6, 2021 on France Info. “What we want with Valérie Pécresse is absolutely avoid total lockdown”, Dublanche added, before stating talks were going on with the “police prefect, regional prefect and ARS”, and seem so far heading towards “weekend lockdown”. If so, Île-de-France region vice-president has already stated she wants to “let markets and places of worship open”, then.