France will maintain its current nationwide lockdown to curb the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic at least until the beginning of December, but hopes to slightly ease the restrictions then and relax them further for the Christmas period, said Prime Minister Jean Castex.

He added that the number of patients in hospital in France for COVID-19 had just exceeded the peak of 32,000 reached in April, with one admission for the disease every 30 seconds and a move into intensive care every three minutes. However, the daily number of infections had fallen over the past week and the intensive care peak should be reached next week.

Castex said the Government would continue to provide “massive support” for businesses such as restaurants forced to close as a result of the pandemic. Restaurants and bars will not reopen in two weeks, but other, “non-essential” shops will probably reopen at that time provided infections remain under control. Individuals will have to continue to fill in “attestation” forms explaining their trips from home for work or essential purposes.