(Credit: Lonely Planet)

French President Emmanuel Macron announced that France will go into lockdown starting Friday, Oct. 30, 2020. The French President announced that “whatever we do, we will have 9,000 patients in the ICU by mid-November.”

“We must protect the economy, but human lives are the most important,” added the French President. “Therefore, I decided that it was necessary to implement a new lockdown to stop COVID-19,” said Macron. The lockdown will apply to the whole territory of France. “Schools will remain open, work can continue, nursing homes and retirement homes can be visited,” added Macron.

French citizens will be able to go out to work, go to a medical appointment, provide assistance, or do their shopping as they did during the spring. Private meetings will be excluded, and public gatherings will be prohibited.

The French President also announced the closure of the external borders of France. Still, the citizens of other countries that are members of the European Union will be able to enter France. “Rapid tests will be deployed. No traveler will be able to enter the European territory if we are not sure that he is not carrying the virus,” concluded Macron.

French Prime Minister Jean Castex will detail the measures on Oct. 29, 2020.