Third French Lockdown lifts

The peak of the third wave of the Covid-19 pandemic in France “appears to be behind us”, French Prime Minister Jean Castex has recently said, whilst also announcing that travel restrictions will be relaxed from early May. He also confirmed that primary schools have started to reopen since the 26th April and restrictions confining people to a 10-kilometre (six-mile) radius of their homes would be dropped from May 3. But the nationwide 7pm till 6am curfew will remain in place until the Covid-19 epidemic is under control, he said.

France is currently under its third ‘confinement’ to stem the coronavirus but this time it has been considerably more relaxed than the previous ones, with outdoor activities encouraged to promote mental health. Most non-essential shops have been closed, however, along with cafes, restaurants and also cultural venues, but business owners in many sectors are piling pressure on the government for re-openings after months of closure.

President Macron has also recently announced a 4-stage plan to ease the lockdown, this includes announcing that foreign tourists with a Covid-19 "health pass" will be allowed to visit France again from 9 June. France's infection rate has fallen since introducing a third lockdown, but numbers remain high in some areas.

Detailing his much-anticipated plans to a group of French newspapers, Mr Macron said he wanted ease France's restrictions in four stages:

• On 3 May, secondary-school and high-school pupils will start returning to in-person classes. Rules on travelling will end

• On 19 May, a current 19:00 nightly curfew will be pushed back to 21:00. Cafes and restaurants will be able to reopen again on outside terraces. Non-essential shops, cinemas, museums and theatres will be able to open, with restrictions on visitors.

• On 9 June, the curfew will pushed back again to 23:00. A "health pass" will be introduced for those attending stadiums and large events, and for foreign tourists entering the country

• On 30 June, the curfew will be lifted completely but nightclubs will remain shut