All of France will be under a strict 6pm curfew for at least 15 days to fight the spread of coronavirus, the prime minister has announced.
Jean Castex also revealed strict new controls for those arriving in France from countries outside the European Union.
Starting on Monday, they must produce a PCR test with negative results and self-isolate for seven days followed by a new, negative test.
The French government is trying to avoid a third lockdown with partial measures such as curfews.
Most regions were under an 8pm curfew but from Saturday "everyone must be home at 6pm", Castex said. That means stores must close by then. Bars and restaurants have been closed for months.
There were 21,228 new confirmed COVID-19 cases on Thursday, fewer than the 23,852 on Wednesday, while health ministry data showed 282 people had died from the virus in hospitals, up from 229 on Wednesday.
The total death toll stood at 69,313 and the cumulative number of cases stood at 2,851,670.
France has one of the highest death counts in Europe and ranks seventh in the world behind countries such as the US, Brazil and the UK.
AP with Reuters
Australian Associated Press
