A new coronavirus variant called 'IHU' has emerged in France amid the rapid surge of Omicron cases across the world.

The B.1.640.2 variant was discovered at the institute IHU Mediterranee Infection. Researchers believe that it contains 46 mutations. This has more mutations than the Omicron variant of COVID-19.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/new-strain-of-coronavirus-not-from-uk-detected-in-france-355567">Also read |&nbsp;New strain of coronavirus, not from UK, detected in France</a>

The new variant has been associated with the African country Cameroon. France has reported at least 12 cases of this variant.

US epidemiologist and health economist Eric Feigl-Ding took to Twitter and ''rung the bell'' about the variant.

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🔔NEW VARIANT—French scientists have “rung the bell” after discovering a cluster 12 cases of a variant of “atypical combination” with **46 mutations &amp; 37 deletions** in southern France after index case returned from Cameroon🇨🇲—dubbed <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/B16402?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#B16402</a>.🧵 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/COVID19?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#COVID19</a> <a href="https://t.co/SHXCbnkQUr">https://t.co/SHXCbnkQUr</a> <a href="https://t.co/UwdL2hSW5g">pic.twitter.com/UwdL2hSW5g</a>
— Eric Feigl-Ding (@DrEricDing) <a href="https://twitter.com/DrEricDing/status/1478100261386301447?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 3, 2022</a></blockquote>
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''These observations show once again the unpredictability of the emergence of new #SARSCoV2 variants and their introduction from abroad, and they exemplify the difficulty to control such introduction and subsequent spread.''

The variant can be identified using careful PCR analysis of signals that are different from Delta and Omicron.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/as-france-fears-dominance-of-omicron-covid-variant-in-2022-canada-lifts-travel-ban-437815">Also read |&nbsp;As France fears dominance of Omicron Covid variant in 2022, Canada lifts travel ban</a>

However, Feigl-Ding has highlighted that ''There are scores of new variants discovered all the time, but it does not necessarily mean they will be more dangerous. What makes a variant more well-known and dangerous is its ability to multiply because of the number of mutations it has in relation to the original virus.''

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6) There are scores of new variants discovered all the time, but it does not necessarily mean they will be more dangerous. What makes a variant more well-known and dangerous is its ability to multiply because of the number of mutations it has in relation to the original virus.
— Eric Feigl-Ding (@DrEricDing) <a href="https://twitter.com/DrEricDing/status/1478106261778542593?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 3, 2022</a></blockquote>
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It comes after French health minister Olivier Veran said that the country expects to see even higher daily counts of new COVID-19 infections.

Last week, France saw four consecutive days of record-breaking new cases figures above 200,000.

Veran had further added that the number might go as high as 300,000 to 400,000 in the coming days.

"I said that maybe - maybe - this is the last wave, meaning that considering the number of infections in our country and around the world, it's probable that we will have developed a form of immunity, either through vaccination or through getting infected, or both," he said.

(With inputs from agencies)

A new coronavirus variant called 'IHU' has emerged in France amid the rapid surge of Omicron cases across the world. The B.1.640.2 variant was discovered at the institute IHU Mediterranee Infection.

A new coronavirus variant called 'IHU' has emerged in France amid the rapid surge of Omicron cases across the world. The B.1.640.2 variant was discovered at the institute IHU Mediterranee Infection. Researchers believe that it contains 46 mutations. This has more mutations than the Omicron variant of COVID-19. Also read | New strain of coronavirus, not from UK, detected in France The new variant has been associated with the African country Cameroon. France has reported at least 12 cases of this variant. US epidemiologist and health economist Eric Feigl-Ding took to Twitter and ''rung the bell'' about the variant. 🔔NEW VARIANT—French scientists have “rung the bell” after discovering a cluster 12 cases of a variant of “atypical combination” with **46 mutations & 37 deletions** in southern France after index case returned from Cameroon🇨🇲—dubbed #B16402.🧵 #COVID19 https://t.co/SHXCbnkQUr pic.twitter.com/UwdL2hSW5g — Eric Feigl-Ding (@DrEricDing) January 3, 2022 × ''These observations show once again the unpredictability of the emergence of new #SARSCoV2 variants and their introduction from abroad, and they exemplify the difficulty to control such introduction and subsequent spread.'' The variant can be identified using careful PCR analysis of signals that are different from Delta and Omicron. Also read | As France fears dominance of Omicron Covid variant in 2022, Canada lifts travel ban However, Feigl-Ding has highlighted that ''There are scores of new variants discovered all the time, but it does not necessarily mean they will be more dangerous. What makes a variant more well-known and dangerous is its ability to multiply because of the number of mutations it has in relation to the original virus.'' 6) There are scores of new variants discovered all the time, but it does not necessarily mean they will be more dangerous. What makes a variant more well-known and dangerous is its ability to multiply because of the number of mutations it has in relation to the original virus. — Eric Feigl-Ding (@DrEricDing) January 3, 2022 × It comes after French health minister Olivier Veran said that the country expects to see even higher daily counts of new COVID-19 infections. Last week, France saw four consecutive days of record-breaking new cases figures above 200,000. Veran had further added that the number might go as high as 300,000 to 400,000 in the coming days. "I said that maybe - maybe - this is the last wave, meaning that considering the number of infections in our country and around the world, it's probable that we will have developed a form of immunity, either through vaccination or through getting infected, or both," he said. (With inputs from agencies)

New coronavirus variant called 'IHU' discovered in France

From looting to fires: New unrest rocks French Caribbean over Covid measures

As France prepares to impose Covid health pass, new protests erupt

France on Friday announced the opening of <a href="wionews.com/topics/coronavirus-vaccine">coronavirus vaccinations </a>for all adults from June 15 regardless of any medical conditions.

"You are 18 years of age or over: meet on June 15 to be vaccinated," French President Emmanuel Macron wrote on Twitter on Friday.&nbsp;

Watch |&nbsp;

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He also added that people above the age of 50 can register for a jab from May 15, extending an earlier age limit of 55 years.&nbsp;

Health Minister Olivier Veran earlier said that vaccinations have begun for people in the age group of 18-50 with chronic illnesses, particularly people suffering from obesity.&nbsp;

Over 15 million people have received a first Covid shot in the country or 29 per cent of the adult population, but so far the vaccines have been reserved for the elderly, people with medical conditions or pregnant women.

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/france-reports-first-cases-of-coronavirus-variant-first-detected-in-india-381537">France reports first cases of coronavirus variant first detected in India</a>

As many as 6.2 million people in France or 12 per cent of the adult population have also received the second dose, news agency AFP reported.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, Macron on Thursday announced a phase-out approach to lifting coronavirus restrictions.&nbsp;

Museums, theatres, cinemas and concert halls will resume operations with limited capacity on May 19, along with non-essential shops and cafes and restaurants with outdoor setting.&nbsp;

The currently-followed 7:00 pm curfew will be gradually eased, to 9:00 pm on May 19 and 11:00 pm on June 9 and will cease to exist from June 30.

France on Friday announced the opening of coronavirus vaccinations for all adults from June 15 regardless of any medical conditions. "You are 18 years of age or over: meet on June 15 to be vaccinated," French President Emmanuel Macron wrote on Twitter on Friday.

France on Friday announced the opening of coronavirus vaccinations for all adults from June 15 regardless of any medical conditions. "You are 18 years of age or over: meet on June 15 to be vaccinated," French President Emmanuel Macron wrote on Twitter on Friday. Watch | He also added that people above the age of 50 can register for a jab from May 15, extending an earlier age limit of 55 years. Health Minister Olivier Veran earlier said that vaccinations have begun for people in the age group of 18-50 with chronic illnesses, particularly people suffering from obesity. Over 15 million people have received a first Covid shot in the country or 29 per cent of the adult population, but so far the vaccines have been reserved for the elderly, people with medical conditions or pregnant women. Also read | France reports first cases of coronavirus variant first detected in India As many as 6.2 million people in France or 12 per cent of the adult population have also received the second dose, news agency AFP reported. Meanwhile, Macron on Thursday announced a phase-out approach to lifting coronavirus restrictions. Museums, theatres, cinemas and concert halls will resume operations with limited capacity on May 19, along with non-essential shops and cafes and restaurants with outdoor setting. The currently-followed 7:00 pm curfew will be gradually eased, to 9:00 pm on May 19 and 11:00 pm on June 9 and will cease to exist from June 30.

Vaccination for all adults to begin in France from June 15

In March, emergency room doctor Frederic Adnet needed to move COVID-19 patients from his fast-filling Paris hospital to less hard-hit regions of France to free up beds, but unlike during the first wave last year the transfers weren't happening.

It was a scene playing out across the French capital and other virus hotspots, mainly because families were now refusing to give consent, interviews with Adnet and half a dozen other emergency room and ICU doctors reveal.

The inability to move patients deprived public health managers of a vital safety valve to manage pressure on the healthcare system, and contributed to President Emmanuel Macron having to order the third lockdown he had striven to avoid.

The difficulties came as a surprise to Adnet. During the epidemic's first wave, 252 COVID-19 patients in the Paris region were relocated to outlying areas over a three-week period. Scores more were moved from eastern France.

"We were buoyed by the success of transfers during the first wave. It gave us a real breather," Adnet told Reuters. "But we were wrong to think we could copy and paste the playbook."

France caught world attention last spring when it used modified high-speed TGV trains to whisk COVID-19 patients across the country to provincial hospitals.

Hospitals in Paris targeted moving 100 patients each week during the third wave, Adnet said. But only 35 transfers have been completed since mid-March, the local health authority said.

During the first wave, the virus was little known and hospitals had been so swiftly overwhelmed that relatives were kept away from wards. It meant less to families if a relative was treated nearby or 500 km (300 miles) away, said Bruno Megarbane, head of ICU at the Lariboisiere hospital in Paris.

As intensive care units buckled under the strain, transfers were often presented to families as non-optional, said Stephane Gaudry, a critical care doctor in Bobigny on the northeastern edge of Paris. It was a grim experience, he said.

In March this year, things were different. Hospital visits were allowed and the transfers were more about winning breathing space than patient survival. Meanwhile, public frustration at the pandemic was growing.

Macron and his government were clear that relieving the pressure on hospitals in Paris was crucial to keeping the country open. But this irked families, whose consent doctors said they felt ethically compelled to seek.

"Families (were saying) to themselves, 'if we're only doing that so that others are not locked down, then no'," said Gaudry.

"At one point the government raised the prospect of no longer seeking consent. That's unreasonable and inhumane."

Families have been reluctant to speak out on the issue, but Olfa Hamzaoui, ICU doctor at the Antoine Beclere Hospital in Paris said: "Families know their relative could die at any moment. Not being able to visit that person because he or she has been moved far away adds to the distress."

Acute&nbsp;Pressure

On March 17, Macron convened his COVID war room and decided to lockdown Paris and much of northern France. Afterwards a government source told Reuters that the failure to transfer more patients had played into the decision.

"We did not do all the medical evacuations that we could have done," the official said. "We are going to lockdown 13 million people when, objectively, we could have done more."

Pressure remains acute on hospitals, which say COVID patient numbers in intensive care have not yet peaked and may still reach the first-wave high of 7,019. France reported 5,705 in ICU on Thursday.

Other complications have also hampered transfers during the third wave. More hospitals nationwide are reaching saturation point while the higher number of gravely ill patients means fewer are suitable for moving, the doctors said.

Transfers remained a "precious tool" for saving lives, Health Minister Olivier Veran said last week.

Lille Hospital's emergency room chief Patrick Goldstein said the northern Hauts de France region was managing to move two or three patients a day, but for the past week had needed to do five to ten.

Transfers helped overloaded wards get ahead of the curve, Goldstein said, and this was a time when hospitals should feel able to forego seeking consent.

France should follow neighbouring Belgium's lead, he said. "They inform, but they don't ask permission."

In March, emergency room doctor Frederic Adnet needed to move COVID-19 patients from his fast-filling Paris hospital to less hard-hit regions of France to free up beds, but unlike during the first wave last year the transfers weren't happening.

In March, emergency room doctor Frederic Adnet needed to move COVID-19 patients from his fast-filling Paris hospital to less hard-hit regions of France to free up beds, but unlike during the first wave last year the transfers weren't happening. It was a scene playing out across the French capital and other virus hotspots, mainly because families were now refusing to give consent, interviews with Adnet and half a dozen other emergency room and ICU doctors reveal. The inability to move patients deprived public health managers of a vital safety valve to manage pressure on the healthcare system, and contributed to President Emmanuel Macron having to order the third lockdown he had striven to avoid. The difficulties came as a surprise to Adnet. During the epidemic's first wave, 252 COVID-19 patients in the Paris region were relocated to outlying areas over a three-week period. Scores more were moved from eastern France. "We were buoyed by the success of transfers during the first wave. It gave us a real breather," Adnet told Reuters. "But we were wrong to think we could copy and paste the playbook." France caught world attention last spring when it used modified high-speed TGV trains to whisk COVID-19 patients across the country to provincial hospitals. Hospitals in Paris targeted moving 100 patients each week during the third wave, Adnet said. But only 35 transfers have been completed since mid-March, the local health authority said. During the first wave, the virus was little known and hospitals had been so swiftly overwhelmed that relatives were kept away from wards. It meant less to families if a relative was treated nearby or 500 km (300 miles) away, said Bruno Megarbane, head of ICU at the Lariboisiere hospital in Paris. As intensive care units buckled under the strain, transfers were often presented to families as non-optional, said Stephane Gaudry, a critical care doctor in Bobigny on the northeastern edge of Paris. It was a grim experience, he said. In March this year, things were different. Hospital visits were allowed and the transfers were more about winning breathing space than patient survival. Meanwhile, public frustration at the pandemic was growing. Macron and his government were clear that relieving the pressure on hospitals in Paris was crucial to keeping the country open. But this irked families, whose consent doctors said they felt ethically compelled to seek. "Families (were saying) to themselves, 'if we're only doing that so that others are not locked down, then no'," said Gaudry. "At one point the government raised the prospect of no longer seeking consent. That's unreasonable and inhumane." Families have been reluctant to speak out on the issue, but Olfa Hamzaoui, ICU doctor at the Antoine Beclere Hospital in Paris said: "Families know their relative could die at any moment. Not being able to visit that person because he or she has been moved far away adds to the distress." Acute Pressure On March 17, Macron convened his COVID war room and decided to lockdown Paris and much of northern France. Afterwards a government source told Reuters that the failure to transfer more patients had played into the decision. "We did not do all the medical evacuations that we could have done," the official said. "We are going to lockdown 13 million people when, objectively, we could have done more." Pressure remains acute on hospitals, which say COVID patient numbers in intensive care have not yet peaked and may still reach the first-wave high of 7,019. France reported 5,705 in ICU on Thursday. Other complications have also hampered transfers during the third wave. More hospitals nationwide are reaching saturation point while the higher number of gravely ill patients means fewer are suitable for moving, the doctors said. Transfers remained a "precious tool" for saving lives, Health Minister Olivier Veran said last week. Lille Hospital's emergency room chief Patrick Goldstein said the northern Hauts de France region was managing to move two or three patients a day, but for the past week had needed to do five to ten. Transfers helped overloaded wards get ahead of the curve, Goldstein said, and this was a time when hospitals should feel able to forego seeking consent. France should follow neighbouring Belgium's lead, he said. "They inform, but they don't ask permission."

Families thwart COVID-19 patient transfers as third wave grips France

France police, these days, busy in raiding restaurant or even bakeries to ensure that everything gets shut down by 6 PM as COVID-19 outbreak boom.

French police raid bakeries and restaurants amid COVID-19 outbreak

France is relying on the AstraZeneca shot to accelerate a vaccination campaign criticised for a slow start.

French government to withdraw financial aid from restaurants who operates illegaly

From Monday all travellers coming to France from outside the European Union will have to show a negative COVID-19 test and self-isolate for a week upon arrival.

France declares curfew from 6pm to 6am to curb COVID spread

Amid concerns over new Coronavirus mutant found in the UK, South Africa and the rest of the world, France has detected its first case of the South African variant of coronavirus, the health ministry said on Thursday.

COVID-19 Pandemic: France detects first case of South African coronavirus variant

The world is paying the price of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus">coronavirus </a>pandemic with massive loss of lives and livelihoods.&nbsp;

China, the exporter of the virus should be paying the bill of this havoc.

In a first of its kind, now people of Italy are suing their government for failing to protect the lives of its citizens.&nbsp;

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/families-of-coronavirus-victims-sue-italy-for-100-million-euros-351928">Families of coronavirus victims sue Italy for 100 million euros</a>

Over 70,000 people have died from the novel coronavirus in Italy and families demand justice and accountability,&nbsp;

Italians have sued the nation's top leaders and are demanding $122 million in compensation.&nbsp;

A group of 500 families have filed civil lawsuits against three Italian leaders: Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte, Health Minister Roberto Speranza and the President of the Lombardy region Attilio Fontana.&nbsp;

All three leaders have been accused of criminal negligence and the plaintiffs say the authorities had no plan in place, either nationally or locally.&nbsp;

It said Italy's pandemic plan dated back to 2006, but was never tested.&nbsp;

Italy must answer these valid questions and in fact, the rest of the governments should also do the same.

If the nations cannot hold China accountable, they must answer their citizens on how they themselves handled the outbreak.&nbsp;

On a closer look, one gets to know that Italy's death toll was higher as the country comprised several in the elderly age group, who are more susceptible to the virus.&nbsp;

Also, Lombardy was hit the hardest because it is the nation's most populated region.&nbsp;

The Italian government could have done better by imposing lockdown measures, but why did lockdown protesters derail government measures?

To cushion a disaster, the government and people need to work collectively.&nbsp;

<h2>An experiment in France</h2>

Italy's neighbour France is also badly hit and now the country aims to ban unvaccinated people from public transport.&nbsp;

A recent opinion poll found that 55 per cent of the French population said they will not get inoculated despite no solid foundation of scepticism.&nbsp;

On Monday, Singapore Airlines became the first country to start a digital health verification process for passengers.&nbsp;

This is the future, if citizens can sue governments, administrations can mandate health-related regulations.&nbsp;

Covid-19 has jolted Europe and the new strain can make the situation scarier.&nbsp;

If the continent wants to save its population, solid measures need to be taken which will require citizen cooperation.&nbsp;

The world is paying the price of coronavirus pandemic with massive loss of lives and livelihoods. China, the exporter of the virus should be paying the bill of this havoc.

The world is paying the price of coronavirus pandemic with massive loss of lives and livelihoods. China, the exporter of the virus should be paying the bill of this havoc. In a first of its kind, now people of Italy are suing their government for failing to protect the lives of its citizens. Also read | Families of coronavirus victims sue Italy for 100 million euros Over 70,000 people have died from the novel coronavirus in Italy and families demand justice and accountability, Italians have sued the nation's top leaders and are demanding $122 million in compensation. A group of 500 families have filed civil lawsuits against three Italian leaders: Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte, Health Minister Roberto Speranza and the President of the Lombardy region Attilio Fontana. All three leaders have been accused of criminal negligence and the plaintiffs say the authorities had no plan in place, either nationally or locally. It said Italy's pandemic plan dated back to 2006, but was never tested. Italy must answer these valid questions and in fact, the rest of the governments should also do the same. If the nations cannot hold China accountable, they must answer their citizens on how they themselves handled the outbreak. On a closer look, one gets to know that Italy's death toll was higher as the country comprised several in the elderly age group, who are more susceptible to the virus. Also, Lombardy was hit the hardest because it is the nation's most populated region. The Italian government could have done better by imposing lockdown measures, but why did lockdown protesters derail government measures? To cushion a disaster, the government and people need to work collectively. An experiment in France Italy's neighbour France is also badly hit and now the country aims to ban unvaccinated people from public transport. A recent opinion poll found that 55 per cent of the French population said they will not get inoculated despite no solid foundation of scepticism. On Monday, Singapore Airlines became the first country to start a digital health verification process for passengers. This is the future, if citizens can sue governments, administrations can mandate health-related regulations. Covid-19 has jolted Europe and the new strain can make the situation scarier. If the continent wants to save its population, solid measures need to be taken which will require citizen cooperation.

Italians are suing their governments, but are citizens acting responsibly?

France had initially hoped to be able to lift many of its lockdown rules on December 15th - allowing people to travel to visit friends and family over the holidays.

French govt to impose a curfew from 8 pm to 6 am for 3 weeks

"The virus is spreading across France at a speed that even the most pessimistic did not predict... As elsewhere in Europe, we are overwhelmed by a second wave that will probably be more difficult and deadly than the first," Macron said.

'COVID-19's 2nd wave will be more difficult and deadly', says Emmanuel Macron

The many English food habits that the French just can not grasp, eating dinner before 8pm is one of them. But with the controversial overnight curfew kicking in to curb Coronavirus infections, the French have no choice but to change age old habits. Watch the report to know more.

Early dinner on the menu for the French; Overnight curfew enforces lifestyle changes

French healthcare workers across France protested against exhausting working conditions during the coronavirus pandemic on Thursday (October 15) and demanded the government hire more personnel.

WION Dispatch: French healthcare workers protest in Paris

PARIS- France thought it had beaten the coronavirus. Its comeback in a roaring second wave left the government scrambling this week for a half-measure that underscored its ugly choices.

The French president, Emmanuel Macron, highlighted his own dilemma Wednesday in announcing a curfew for Paris and eight other major cities. A new lockdown for an already reeling economy would have been “disproportionate,” he said, yet the pressure on intensive care beds was intolerable.

“Our caregivers are exhausted,” he said.

“The virus is recirculating very rapidly in Europe and in our country,” Macron said in an interview on national television. France had to “take back control.”

If the virus ever was under control in France, that was before the summer. But, experts say, after that moment, the French, like so many others elsewhere in Europe, let their guard down.

France’s attachment to its summer holidays; young people’s exuberance in going out and partying; a lack of vigilance in wearing masks and social distancing; the risks of resuming routine life; and the government’s failure — from the very start — to effectively test, trace and isolate infected people have all contributed to an explosive second wave of infections.

Whether ordering people, starting Saturday, to stay in their homes from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. is the answer — restaurant owners and young people are already grumbling — cannot be known immediately. But the dire outlook was undeniable. With an average of nearly 20,000 new cases a day, health experts have been warning all week that the virus is out of control in France, particularly in cities.

“Right now, we’ve got to put the brakes on it,” said Yazdan Yazdanpanah, an infectious disease specialist on the French government’s COVID-19 advisory panel. “This curfew will limit contacts. We’ve got to lower the rate right away. We don’t really have a choice.”

Mircea Sofonea, an epidemiologist at the University of Montpellier, said that the new curfew came in “the last possible week to react” to prevent hospital saturation. He noted that a new study found that a curfew imposed in French Guiana reduced infections by 36%.

Until Wednesday night, Macron’s own indecision had emphasized the quandary faced by governments all over Europe caught between faltering economies — France is facing a recession of nearly 9% — restriction-weary populations and a virus that will not quit.

The government’s hesitancy was palpable this week. The prime minister, Jean Castex, chided the French for having “decided a little too quickly” that the virus no longer posed a threat.

The same day, the tourism minister, Jean Baptiste Lemoyne, urged people to go on vacation during the upcoming school break to prop up the country’s vital tourism industry, whose revenues are half what they were a year ago.

Macron himself acknowledged the impossibility of barring upcoming French vacation-going in his remarks Wednesday.

Lulled by a relatively successful handling of the first wave, the government failed to firmly put in place a critical triptych over the summer: testing, tracing and isolation. The numbers are not as high as they were last spring, but they are bad enough. Nearly 100 people died in the 24 hours ending Thursday morning — far below the 1,000-plus death tolls of mid-April but still alarming.

Cases, flat through June and July, have been rising steadily since August, with 27,000 positive tests reported Saturday. An infection rate of 5 to 6 cases per 100,000 people over the summer has spiraled to nearly 200 across France. It is up to 800 for 20- to 30-year-olds in Paris. The government has set the red alert limit at 150.

In the interim, bars and gyms have been shut in major cities. Establishments that serve food remain open, even if cafe owners report confusion about what qualifies as enough of a meal to keep police off their backs.

There have been mixed messages, too, about going back to offices. The president of the region that includes Paris, Valérie Pécresse, appealed for a return last month, even as infections started to rise. The result is that central Paris bustles with office workers, compared with moribund U.S. downtowns, although nearly everybody wears a mask. On Wednesday, Macron encouraged at least a partial return to telecommuting.

The gestation of the current infection boom was plainly visible in July, August and September. Visitors packed France’s summer watering holes after the government encouraged tourism, anxious also not to get crosswise of the sacred ritual that is the French summer holiday.

A wave of indignation greeted mild suggestions that workers should give up some vacation days to compensate for those lost during the lockdown.

In Paris, as they returned from these hot spots, young people spilled from crowded bars onto the sidewalks in the city’s bohemian eastern districts and massed along the banks of the Seine. There was no social distancing and few masks. France thought the virus was tamed.

“There was certainly a lack of understanding in a part of the population that didn’t believe in a second wave,” said Renaud Piarroux, an epidemics specialist at Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital in Paris. “Some in the younger population abandoned the necessary precautions,” he said, like wearing a mask and social distancing.

Before Macron’s announcement Wednesday, several health experts predicted a severe reckoning in the coming weeks.

“It’s all over,” William Dab, a former national director of public health who has been critical of the government’s response, said earlier this week. “We’ve lost the fight. It’s out of control.”

Dab chided the government for what he called a “strategy deficit” that had not motivated individuals to change their behavior. In the Paris region, he added, “there is nothing left to be done.”

On Thursday, police searched the homes and offices of several current and former officials, including the health minister, Olivier Véran, as part of an inquiry into the government’s response to the pandemic. The French Court of Justice, a special court that hears accusations of official mismanagement, opened the investigation in July.

The one ray of hope in France, as elsewhere, is that treatment methods have improved since the spring, allowing more patients to be saved. Still, the head of Paris hospitals, Martin Hirsch, warned Tuesday that coronavirus patients would most likely fill up to 90% of intensive care beds in the capital by next week. Already, more than 1,600 of France’s 5,000 intensive care beds are filled.

A report from independent experts, commissioned by the government and released this week, concluded that France had done far better than Britain, Sweden, the United States and Southern Europe but not as well as Austria or Germany.

The French obeyed the lockdown imposed by the government in March, April and May. Then, with cases flatlining, they flocked back into the streets, stores, cafes and restaurants.

Citizens let down their guard, reinforcing what Bernard Jomier, a member of the French Senate commission examining the government’s pandemic response, termed a “collective deficit of public health culture in our country.”

“We are a country where the politics of prevention is not part of our culture,” he said in an interview this week. “There are elements in French society that are favorable to the development of the virus.”

The consequence has been a “hesitation in the government’s official line,” said Jomier, a Greens party lawmaker who represents a Paris district. “The governance of public health is not well organized.

“Testing, tracing, isolating — this has been a failure,” he said. “Badly elaborated, badly implemented.”

At Charles de Gaulle Airport, for example, arriving travelers are tested but do not get the results for at least a week.

Contact tracing has also “failed,” Jomier said; Dab, the former public health director, called it a “fiasco” in an interview in the Journal du Dimanche in September, noting that the five contacts traced per case in July had dropped to two.

“The number of contacts is very far below the actual number of contacts,” said Piarroux, the epidemics specialist. “It’s all happening over the phone, so there’s less motivation” to divulge the contacts.

Both he and Jomier also said that isolation, the third part of the triptych, had hardly been enforced, pointing to out-of-control infection rates in shelters that house migrants.

On Thursday, French newspapers grimly recalled the curfew imposed during the German occupation, and industry groups called for new help for struggling restaurants.

“We can’t work from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.,” said Denis Kouch, the owner of a restaurant off the Champs-Élysées. “People don’t even have time to arrive, and then they have to leave right away?

 
&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;

PARIS- France thought it had beaten the coronavirus. Its comeback in a roaring second wave left the government scrambling this week for a half-measure that underscored its ugly choices.

PARIS- France thought it had beaten the coronavirus. Its comeback in a roaring second wave left the government scrambling this week for a half-measure that underscored its ugly choices. The French president, Emmanuel Macron, highlighted his own dilemma Wednesday in announcing a curfew for Paris and eight other major cities. A new lockdown for an already reeling economy would have been “disproportionate,” he said, yet the pressure on intensive care beds was intolerable. “Our caregivers are exhausted,” he said. “The virus is recirculating very rapidly in Europe and in our country,” Macron said in an interview on national television. France had to “take back control.” If the virus ever was under control in France, that was before the summer. But, experts say, after that moment, the French, like so many others elsewhere in Europe, let their guard down. France’s attachment to its summer holidays; young people’s exuberance in going out and partying; a lack of vigilance in wearing masks and social distancing; the risks of resuming routine life; and the government’s failure — from the very start — to effectively test, trace and isolate infected people have all contributed to an explosive second wave of infections. Whether ordering people, starting Saturday, to stay in their homes from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. is the answer — restaurant owners and young people are already grumbling — cannot be known immediately. But the dire outlook was undeniable. With an average of nearly 20,000 new cases a day, health experts have been warning all week that the virus is out of control in France, particularly in cities. “Right now, we’ve got to put the brakes on it,” said Yazdan Yazdanpanah, an infectious disease specialist on the French government’s COVID-19 advisory panel. “This curfew will limit contacts. We’ve got to lower the rate right away. We don’t really have a choice.” Mircea Sofonea, an epidemiologist at the University of Montpellier, said that the new curfew came in “the last possible week to react” to prevent hospital saturation. He noted that a new study found that a curfew imposed in French Guiana reduced infections by 36%. Until Wednesday night, Macron’s own indecision had emphasized the quandary faced by governments all over Europe caught between faltering economies — France is facing a recession of nearly 9% — restriction-weary populations and a virus that will not quit. The government’s hesitancy was palpable this week. The prime minister, Jean Castex, chided the French for having “decided a little too quickly” that the virus no longer posed a threat. The same day, the tourism minister, Jean Baptiste Lemoyne, urged people to go on vacation during the upcoming school break to prop up the country’s vital tourism industry, whose revenues are half what they were a year ago. Macron himself acknowledged the impossibility of barring upcoming French vacation-going in his remarks Wednesday. Lulled by a relatively successful handling of the first wave, the government failed to firmly put in place a critical triptych over the summer: testing, tracing and isolation. The numbers are not as high as they were last spring, but they are bad enough. Nearly 100 people died in the 24 hours ending Thursday morning — far below the 1,000-plus death tolls of mid-April but still alarming. Cases, flat through June and July, have been rising steadily since August, with 27,000 positive tests reported Saturday. An infection rate of 5 to 6 cases per 100,000 people over the summer has spiraled to nearly 200 across France. It is up to 800 for 20- to 30-year-olds in Paris. The government has set the red alert limit at 150. In the interim, bars and gyms have been shut in major cities. Establishments that serve food remain open, even if cafe owners report confusion about what qualifies as enough of a meal to keep police off their backs. There have been mixed messages, too, about going back to offices. The president of the region that includes Paris, Valérie Pécresse, appealed for a return last month, even as infections started to rise. The result is that central Paris bustles with office workers, compared with moribund U.S. downtowns, although nearly everybody wears a mask. On Wednesday, Macron encouraged at least a partial return to telecommuting. The gestation of the current infection boom was plainly visible in July, August and September. Visitors packed France’s summer watering holes after the government encouraged tourism, anxious also not to get crosswise of the sacred ritual that is the French summer holiday. A wave of indignation greeted mild suggestions that workers should give up some vacation days to compensate for those lost during the lockdown. In Paris, as they returned from these hot spots, young people spilled from crowded bars onto the sidewalks in the city’s bohemian eastern districts and massed along the banks of the Seine. There was no social distancing and few masks. France thought the virus was tamed. “There was certainly a lack of understanding in a part of the population that didn’t believe in a second wave,” said Renaud Piarroux, an epidemics specialist at Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital in Paris. “Some in the younger population abandoned the necessary precautions,” he said, like wearing a mask and social distancing. Before Macron’s announcement Wednesday, several health experts predicted a severe reckoning in the coming weeks. “It’s all over,” William Dab, a former national director of public health who has been critical of the government’s response, said earlier this week. “We’ve lost the fight. It’s out of control.” Dab chided the government for what he called a “strategy deficit” that had not motivated individuals to change their behavior. In the Paris region, he added, “there is nothing left to be done.” On Thursday, police searched the homes and offices of several current and former officials, including the health minister, Olivier Véran, as part of an inquiry into the government’s response to the pandemic. The French Court of Justice, a special court that hears accusations of official mismanagement, opened the investigation in July. The one ray of hope in France, as elsewhere, is that treatment methods have improved since the spring, allowing more patients to be saved. Still, the head of Paris hospitals, Martin Hirsch, warned Tuesday that coronavirus patients would most likely fill up to 90% of intensive care beds in the capital by next week. Already, more than 1,600 of France’s 5,000 intensive care beds are filled. A report from independent experts, commissioned by the government and released this week, concluded that France had done far better than Britain, Sweden, the United States and Southern Europe but not as well as Austria or Germany. The French obeyed the lockdown imposed by the government in March, April and May. Then, with cases flatlining, they flocked back into the streets, stores, cafes and restaurants. Citizens let down their guard, reinforcing what Bernard Jomier, a member of the French Senate commission examining the government’s pandemic response, termed a “collective deficit of public health culture in our country.” “We are a country where the politics of prevention is not part of our culture,” he said in an interview this week. “There are elements in French society that are favorable to the development of the virus.” The consequence has been a “hesitation in the government’s official line,” said Jomier, a Greens party lawmaker who represents a Paris district. “The governance of public health is not well organized. “Testing, tracing, isolating — this has been a failure,” he said. “Badly elaborated, badly implemented.” At Charles de Gaulle Airport, for example, arriving travelers are tested but do not get the results for at least a week. Contact tracing has also “failed,” Jomier said; Dab, the former public health director, called it a “fiasco” in an interview in the Journal du Dimanche in September, noting that the five contacts traced per case in July had dropped to two. “The number of contacts is very far below the actual number of contacts,” said Piarroux, the epidemics specialist. “It’s all happening over the phone, so there’s less motivation” to divulge the contacts. Both he and Jomier also said that isolation, the third part of the triptych, had hardly been enforced, pointing to out-of-control infection rates in shelters that house migrants. On Thursday, French newspapers grimly recalled the curfew imposed during the German occupation, and industry groups called for new help for struggling restaurants. “We can’t work from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.,” said Denis Kouch, the owner of a restaurant off the Champs-Élysées. “People don’t even have time to arrive, and then they have to leave right away?

Will a half-step by Macron be enough to blunt France’s second wave?

French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire promised 1 billion euros ($1.17 billion) of additional support to help French companies cushion the impact of a nightly curfew in Paris and eight other big cities where the coronavirus is running rampant.

France promises $1.2 BN for curfew-hit firms

Hundreds of workers at COVID-19 laboratories in France went on strike on Thursday, a trade union said, angry over poor working conditions as the coronavirus testing system buckles under huge demand.

Fineprint: Testing system buckles under huge demand in France, COVID-19 Pandemic

While the world continues to battle the coronavirus. French retirement homes are striving normalcy. Watch report.

Normalcy despite increase in COVID-19 cases in France: Keeping elderly busy and entertained

As France continues to battle a fresh wave of coronavirus cases, the country has announced that parents will be paid to stay home if schools of their children are locked down due to a surge in infections.&nbsp;

France on Wednesday said one out of the two parents will get 84 per cent of the wages if a child under the age of 16 was unable to attend schools due to a shutdown. &nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/french-pm-to-have-covid-test-after-contact-at-tour-de-france-326032">French PM to have COVID test after contact at Tour de France</a>

The coronavirus cases in the country continue to climb upwards with officials confirming 9,843 new cases on Thursday, highest ever since the crisis began in the country.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, on Thursday French President Emmanuel Macron said the government would take a call on new, local lockdowns on Friday, adding that efforts would be made to make the new curbs not very restrictive.&nbsp;

"We need to do it while allowing us to continue to live, such as being able to educate our children, treat other illnesses and protect other patients," the French president said.

As France continues to battle a fresh wave of coronavirus cases, the country has announced that parents will be paid to stay home if schools of their children are locked down due to a surge in infections.

As France continues to battle a fresh wave of coronavirus cases, the country has announced that parents will be paid to stay home if schools of their children are locked down due to a surge in infections. France on Wednesday said one out of the two parents will get 84 per cent of the wages if a child under the age of 16 was unable to attend schools due to a shutdown. Also read | French PM to have COVID test after contact at Tour de France The coronavirus cases in the country continue to climb upwards with officials confirming 9,843 new cases on Thursday, highest ever since the crisis began in the country. Meanwhile, on Thursday French President Emmanuel Macron said the government would take a call on new, local lockdowns on Friday, adding that efforts would be made to make the new curbs not very restrictive. "We need to do it while allowing us to continue to live, such as being able to educate our children, treat other illnesses and protect other patients," the French president said.

France to pay parents if child's school gets closed due to coronavirus lockdown

For the second time in two days, France reported over 7,000 new coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours, the health ministry on Thursday said.&nbsp;

France reported 7,157 new infections, which is just shy of record 7,578 cases confirmed on March 31 during the lockdown.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/france-sees-nearly-7400-new-daily-coronavirus-cases-in-exponential-surge-323861">France sees nearly 7,400 new daily coronavirus cases in exponential surge</a>

Also, with 20 new deaths, the total number of fatalities stands at 30,706. This is the fourth successive day when the country's fatality count has been in double-digit.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-states-asked-to-be-ready-to-distribute-coronavirus-vaccine-by-november-1-report-324847">US states asked to be ready to distribute coronavirus vaccine by November 1: Report</a>

France, last week, touched the mark of 7,000 again and on Wednesday too saw 7,017 cases. The total number of COVID-19 infections in the country stands at 300,181.&nbsp;

The seven-day average of total coronavirus cases rose to 5,783, which brings more concerns as it more than the highest such average recorded during lockdown for the seventh day.&nbsp;

The highest seven-day average during the lockdown from March 17 to May 10 was of 4,537 on April 1.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, the number of people with COVID-19 in intensive care also rose for the fifth successive day on Thursday, with 18 new additions.

The number of people hospitalised also rose for the fifth day in a row with 11 new admissions.&nbsp;

For the second time in two days, France reported over 7,000 new coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours, the health ministry on Thursday said. France reported 7,157 new infections, which is just shy of record 7,578 cases confirmed on March 31 during the lockdown.

For the second time in two days, France reported over 7,000 new coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours, the health ministry on Thursday said. France reported 7,157 new infections, which is just shy of record 7,578 cases confirmed on March 31 during the lockdown. Also read | France sees nearly 7,400 new daily coronavirus cases in exponential surge Also, with 20 new deaths, the total number of fatalities stands at 30,706. This is the fourth successive day when the country's fatality count has been in double-digit. Also read | US states asked to be ready to distribute coronavirus vaccine by November 1: Report France, last week, touched the mark of 7,000 again and on Wednesday too saw 7,017 cases. The total number of COVID-19 infections in the country stands at 300,181. The seven-day average of total coronavirus cases rose to 5,783, which brings more concerns as it more than the highest such average recorded during lockdown for the seventh day. The highest seven-day average during the lockdown from March 17 to May 10 was of 4,537 on April 1. Meanwhile, the number of people with COVID-19 in intensive care also rose for the fifth successive day on Thursday, with 18 new additions. The number of people hospitalised also rose for the fifth day in a row with 11 new admissions.

France reports over 7,000 new coronavirus cases for second consecutive day

The stimulus equates to 4% of gross domestic product, meaning France is ploughing more public cash into its economy than any other big European country

France unleashes 118 billion euro stimulus to revive economy

In France's Paris, boxing returns with a bang after the four months halt. Watch this video to know more.

France: Boxing returns with a bang in Paris after four months halt

Travellers entering France from 16 countries where the coronavirus is circulating widely now must undergo virus tests upon arrival at French airports and ports.

French Prime Minister Jean Castex announced last month that the tests would be required starting August 1 for passengers France is allowing in from a list of approved countries unless they present proof of a negative test done within 72 hours of their departure. 
Those who test positive in France as of Saturday must quarantine for 14 days.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uk-urges-france-for-tougher-action-on-channel-migrants-317521" hreflang="en">UK urges France for 'tougher action' on Channel migrants</a>

France is not permitting general travel to and from the 16 countries, which include the United States and Brazil. The testing requirement therefore only applies to people entering under limited circumstances: French citizens who live in these countries or citizens of these countries with an established residence in France.

Daniel Court was tested at Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport after coming in from the French Riviera city of Nice. He acknowledged not loving the experience.

''It's very fast, but I have to say that it's not very pleasant,'' he said. ''But we have to do it.''

Another passenger who got tested after landing at Paris' main airport, Nadia Vusik of Belarus, said she thought the new policy made sense.

''It is definitely necessary, and I am happy that in France it is possible to do right here. It's very convenient,''&nbsp;she said.

French health authorities say the number of daily confirmed COVID-19 cases has jumped on the French mainland in recent weeks. The government has already made mask-wearing mandatory in all indoor public spaces.

France has had over 225,000 confirmed infections and over 30,200 virus-related deaths, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University, but experts say all numbers in the pandemic are too low for various reasons, including limited testing and missed cases.

The French government has so far ruled out imposing another nationwide lockdown after the one that brought the country to a standstill for nearly two months between March and May.

Travellers entering France from 16 countries where the coronavirus is circulating widely now must undergo virus tests upon arrival at French airports and ports. French Prime Minister Jean Castex announced last month that the tests would be required starting August 1 for passengers France is allowing in from a list of approved countries unless they present proof of a negative test done within 72 hours of their departure.

Travellers entering France from 16 countries where the coronavirus is circulating widely now must undergo virus tests upon arrival at French airports and ports. French Prime Minister Jean Castex announced last month that the tests would be required starting August 1 for passengers France is allowing in from a list of approved countries unless they present proof of a negative test done within 72 hours of their departure. Those who test positive in France as of Saturday must quarantine for 14 days. Also read: UK urges France for 'tougher action' on Channel migrants France is not permitting general travel to and from the 16 countries, which include the United States and Brazil. The testing requirement therefore only applies to people entering under limited circumstances: French citizens who live in these countries or citizens of these countries with an established residence in France. Daniel Court was tested at Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport after coming in from the French Riviera city of Nice. He acknowledged not loving the experience. ''It's very fast, but I have to say that it's not very pleasant,'' he said. ''But we have to do it.'' Another passenger who got tested after landing at Paris' main airport, Nadia Vusik of Belarus, said she thought the new policy made sense. ''It is definitely necessary, and I am happy that in France it is possible to do right here. It's very convenient,'' she said. French health authorities say the number of daily confirmed COVID-19 cases has jumped on the French mainland in recent weeks. The government has already made mask-wearing mandatory in all indoor public spaces. France has had over 225,000 confirmed infections and over 30,200 virus-related deaths, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University, but experts say all numbers in the pandemic are too low for various reasons, including limited testing and missed cases. The French government has so far ruled out imposing another nationwide lockdown after the one that brought the country to a standstill for nearly two months between March and May.

France starts testing travellers from 16 nations for coronavirus

The French government&nbsp;said on Wednesday that any new lockdown will be targeted, and not imposed nationwide, if there is a major new coronavirus outbreak.

"My aim is to prepare&nbsp;France&nbsp;for an eventual second wave, while preserving our daily life, our economic and social life," new Prime Minister Jean Castex said in an interview.

"But we're not going to impose a lockdown like the one we did last March, because we've learned... that the economic and human consequences from a total lockdown are disastrous," he said.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/france-announces-19-billion-relief-package-for-tourism-industry-311535/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The previous French government enforced a strict nationwide lockdown from mid-March to May 11 to try to curb the spread of COVID-19, and some restrictions on public gatherings are still in place.

"We must be ready for a second wave, but we would not proceed to a general lockdown like in March, as that has terrible economic and human consequences. Any new lockdown would be targeted," Castex told BFM television.

Castex, who was a civil servant and used to be an adviser to former President Nicolas Sarkozy, was appointed prime minister on Friday. He has put together a new team for the remaining two years of centrist President Emmanuel Macron's mandate.

Castex appointed some ministers on Monday. He said he would complete the formation of his government with the nomination of junior ministers next week.

He also said that talks with unions and employers about Macron's wide-ranging pension reforms - which were halted during the lockdown - would resume before July 20.

He said the delay was not necessarily a bad thing.

"Sometimes, when you lose two or three months, that is actually time won ... we need to reopen the dialogue," he said.

Castex confirmed his government would commit 7.5 billion euros to raise the wages of hospital workers but said he would resist union calls to boost that to 9 billion, saying that state finances are under stress because of the coronavirus crisis.

The French government said on Wednesday that any new lockdown will be targeted, and not imposed nationwide, if there is a major new coronavirus outbreak. "My aim is to prepare France for an eventual second wave, while preserving our daily life, our economic and social life," new Prime Minister Jean Castex said in an interview.

The French government said on Wednesday that any new lockdown will be targeted, and not imposed nationwide, if there is a major new coronavirus outbreak. "My aim is to prepare France for an eventual second wave, while preserving our daily life, our economic and social life," new Prime Minister Jean Castex said in an interview. "But we're not going to impose a lockdown like the one we did last March, because we've learned... that the economic and human consequences from a total lockdown are disastrous," he said. The previous French government enforced a strict nationwide lockdown from mid-March to May 11 to try to curb the spread of COVID-19, and some restrictions on public gatherings are still in place. "We must be ready for a second wave, but we would not proceed to a general lockdown like in March, as that has terrible economic and human consequences. Any new lockdown would be targeted," Castex told BFM television. Castex, who was a civil servant and used to be an adviser to former President Nicolas Sarkozy, was appointed prime minister on Friday. He has put together a new team for the remaining two years of centrist President Emmanuel Macron's mandate. Castex appointed some ministers on Monday. He said he would complete the formation of his government with the nomination of junior ministers next week. He also said that talks with unions and employers about Macron's wide-ranging pension reforms - which were halted during the lockdown - would resume before July 20. He said the delay was not necessarily a bad thing. "Sometimes, when you lose two or three months, that is actually time won ... we need to reopen the dialogue," he said. Castex confirmed his government would commit 7.5 billion euros to raise the wages of hospital workers but said he would resist union calls to boost that to 9 billion, saying that state finances are under stress because of the coronavirus crisis.

France rules out 'total lockdown' in case of new COVID-19 spike

The grand monument opens after its longest period of inactivity since World War 2, with strict hygiene and safety measures.

Paris's pride Eiffel Tower reopens after 3 months of coronavirus shutdown

Millions of French children returned to school on June 22 after more than three months at home due to the novel coronavirus outbreak. Watch report.

Children return to school as France eases COVID-19 restrictions

France's chief prosecutor has opened a probe into the government's handling of the coronavirus outbreak. The probe could result in charges like "involuntary homicide" and "endangering life".&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/wearing-masks-will-be-compulsory-in-spain-until-virus-gets-eradicated-health-minister-304578" hreflang="en">Wearing masks will be compulsory in Spain until virus gets eradicated: Health Minister</a>

The investigation has been launched after complaints were filed by members of the public. The probe will be directed towards national authorities, who committed "possible" criminal offence and it will not be used to determine &nbsp;"political or administrative responsibility," as what Remy Heitz told AFP.&nbsp;

France's President Emmanuel Macron will be immune to any inquiries or prosecution as he is the head of the state.&nbsp;

France has been one of the worst-hit countries in terms of coronavirus. The European country reported over 154,000 cases and over 29,000 deaths.&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
The economy of the country has been hit hard due to coronavirus lockdown. According to the Bank of France, the economy in the country will shrink about 10 per cent this year due to the pandemic. Their recovery to pre-crisis level will not possible before 2022.

France's chief prosecutor has opened a probe into the government's handling of the coronavirus outbreak. The probe could result in charges like "involuntary homicide" and "endangering life".

France's chief prosecutor has opened a probe into the government's handling of the coronavirus outbreak. The probe could result in charges like "involuntary homicide" and "endangering life". Also read: Wearing masks will be compulsory in Spain until virus gets eradicated: Health Minister The investigation has been launched after complaints were filed by members of the public. The probe will be directed towards national authorities, who committed "possible" criminal offence and it will not be used to determine "political or administrative responsibility," as what Remy Heitz told AFP. France's President Emmanuel Macron will be immune to any inquiries or prosecution as he is the head of the state. France has been one of the worst-hit countries in terms of coronavirus. The European country reported over 154,000 cases and over 29,000 deaths. The economy of the country has been hit hard due to coronavirus lockdown. According to the Bank of France, the economy in the country will shrink about 10 per cent this year due to the pandemic. Their recovery to pre-crisis level will not possible before 2022.

France's chief prosecutor to launch probe into state's coronavirus handling

The French diary industry has launched a campaign urging people to eat more cheese as coronavirus as hit sales as much as 60%

France urges people to eat more cheese

New evidence suggests that France May have first coronavirus case in December last year. The French hospital which tested its old samples found evidence that the patient admitted in December was infected with COVID-19. Watch report.

France COVID-19 case in December? Man had no travel history to China

Number of European countries are preparing to ease their lockdown measures as they are seeing a flattening of the curve of COVID-19 infections. Watch this video to know more.

Italy and France records one of the lowest COVID-19 cases

Parisians have been in lockdown for nearly five weeks on Sunday (April 19), and many are already looking forward to May 11th, the date set by French President Emmanuel Macron as the end of the confinement period.

A haircut, a hug, a drink at a bar: Parisians dream of end to lockdown