French Prime Minister Jean Castex has said the country will close its borders to non-European Union countries for all except essential travel, while stepping back from a widely anticipated third lockdown.
The travel ban will come into force from Sunday to try to limit the spread of new variant cases of coronavirus from abroad. MrCastex, speaking after a meeting of the country's defence council, said he was not announcing a fresh national lockdown for now, adding that "the next few days will be decisive" in terms of any possible new restrictions.
President Emmanuel Macron added: "Lockdown is a legitimate question... (but) we all know the heavy impact that has on all fronts." In an attempt to stem the number of new infections, Mr Castex said