France tightens measures as coronavirus infections continue to rise, Guadeloupe closed | abroad

In about thirty provinces, especially in the south of the country, the incidence was above 200 corona cases per 100,000 inhabitants. Prefectures should make Corona passage mandatory in those departments for shopping centers over 20,000 square metres, according to government spokesperson Gabriel Atal. Face masks should also be mandatory in indoor public places.

As of mid-October, PCR tests will not be free over-the-counter. Border controls are also tightening: “100 percent of travelers from high-risk countries are tested with antigen testing,” Atal said.

Decisions were made on Wednesday by the COVID-19 Advocacy Committee, which convened in an effort to reduce the number of coronavirus cases as the number of hospitalized and intensive care patients rose again.

Guadeloupe, where the number of infections is rising explosively, will be under a strict lockdown from Wednesday evening. According to Attal, the infection rate has never been this high in a French region as it is today on an island in the Caribbean. Bars, restaurants and beaches are closed again. The closure also began on Tuesday Martinique announced. All tourists must leave the island.

The Minister for Overseas Territories, Sebastien Licorne, arrived in Guadeloupe on Tuesday evening accompanied by 274 health care providers and 60 firefighters. He will discuss the modalities of the strict closure with the governor during the evening. On Thursday, Licorne will head to Martinique.