COVID-19 stricken Paris will likely be placed under the French government's maximum alert level as early as Monday due to the relentless rise in coronavirus cases in the city.
Maximum alert is the second to last alert level before a formal state of emergency is declared. The distinct possibility of a maximum alert was held out over the weekend by French Health Minister Olivier Véran. This government decision will force the closure of restaurants and bars, and tighten other restrictions on public life.
Véran said the greater Paris region with its population of seven million has exceeded all three of the government's criteria for being placed on the highest coronavirus alert level. For one, the incidence rate has risen to 259.6 cases for every 100,000 inhabitants, surpassing the alert threshold of 250.
In Paris and in the surrounding communes, up to 35% of intensive care unit (ICU) beds are occupied by COVID-19 patients. This percentage is above the critical level of 30%.Paris has also passed the third criteria. COVID-19 cases among those over the age of 65 have hit 132 cases per 100,000 people, surpassing the threshold of 100.
"It is getting worse faster in Paris and the surrounding area," said Véran.
"We need a few days to confirm the trends, but if they are confirmed, we'll have no choice but to put it on maximum alert, from Monday," he said. "We're in a phase where the situation is worsening.
"We will take, collectively, the measures that are necessary and which we can already anticipate."
Only the cities of Marseille and Aix, and the Caribbean territory of Guadeloupe have been placed on maximum alert thus far. In both these places, bars and restaurants were forced to shut down for two weeks from last Monday.
The government might also close bars and restaurants when Paris is placed under maximum alert. Véran noted COVID-19 is spreading "too fast" throughout France. He declared France is in a "phase of worsening."
France recorded nearly 14,000 new COVID-19 cases and 63 deaths in 24 hours. There were between 800 and 1200 daily new cases recorded in Paris last week.
Many business owners in Paris are extremely worried about the long-lasting impact of closures due to a maximum alert. They've already been protesting against existing restrictions, as have fellow business owners in Marseille.
Paris is now on "enhanced alert." This level limits gatherings to 10 people and imposes a 10:00 p.m. curfew for bars. Last week, the Prefecture of Police of Paris said businesses could be made to close if they failed to comply with regulations.
