Coronavirus: Germany and France to decide on new lockdowns

In Germany, it is being termed a “lockdown light” for November while in France a four-week lockdown is expected but less severe than in the spring.

Chancellor Angela Merkel is set to decide with state leaders whether to shut bars, leisure centres and hotels to halt the rise in infections.

President Emmanuel Macron will give details of French measures later.

Covid infections in Europe are almost as high as in the first wave, although testing now is more extensive.

Night curfews are in force in several countries. However, one French minister has complained that curfews affecting some 46 million people have failed to halt social interactions.

“[The curfew] has simply shifted them – instead of getting together at 21:00, people meet up at six,” the unnamed minister was quoted as saying.

The German government is keen to enable families and friends to meet at Christmas, but daily infections have soared to a new high of 14,964 and 85 more deaths.

Ireland imposed tight measures last week with the aim of reopening before Christmas and Italy shut cinemas and gyms this week in an attempt to “save Christmas”. Now the UK government is under pressure to act too.

What measures are expected?
A draft proposal seen by German media suggests a broad but limited lockdown from 4 November:

Schools would remain open
Social contacts would be limited to two households and tourism would be halted
Cinemas, theatres, leisure centres would be shut
Bars would close and restaurants would be limited to takeaways
Tattoo and massage parlours would shut but hairdressers would be allowed to stay open
In France, the defence council and cabinet were deciding the extent of the planned four-week lockdown on Wednesday, but reports suggest schools will stay open and online study will be encouraged for older children and universities.

The changes could kick in from Thursday night.

France recorded 523 deaths on Tuesday, including 235 in residential homes, and the hospital federation has appealed for as broad a lockdown as possible.

“The country is really on the verge of having its health system becoming deluged,” it said, warning of significant excess mortality in the most vulnerable groups.