COVID-19: France declares public health state of emergency

The French government on Wednesday declared a public health state of emergency to impose new measures to contain the spread of COVID-19. Also Read | Remembering A.P.J. Abdul Kalam on his birth anniversary; PM Modi, Amit Shah tweet The French government said, “The COVID-19 epidemic constitutes a public health disaster which, by its character and its severity, puts at risk the health of the population,” “It justifies the declaration of a state of emergency so that measures can be adopted ... which are strictly proportionate to the public health risks.” The statement did not say what action the government would take, but the adoption of a state of emergency gives the authorities statutory powers to impose tough measures. President Emmanuel Macron is expected to detail the measures being planned when he gives an interview on national television at around 8 p.m. (1800 GMT) on Wednesday. The French government previously declared a public health state of emergency in March this year, when hospitalizations caused by the epidemic were near their peak. At the time, the authorities used their extra powers to order people to stay at home except for essential work, buying food or taking one hour of daily exercise. The state of emergency was lifted in mainland France in July, after the number of COVID-19 cases subsided. Also Read | COVID-19 India: Total cases reach 73,07,098; Spike of 67,708 new cases But since then, the disease has surged back, with Prime Minister Jean Castex saying France was in the midst of the second wave of the virus. French health authorities reported on Wednesday that the number of people being treated in hospital for COVID-19 went above the 9,100 threshold for the first time since June 25. -PTC News