According to a decree published on Friday, the French government has declared the capital, Paris, and the Bouches-du-Rhone region around Marseille on the Mediterranean coast, “red” areas where the chances of infection with the Coronavirus are high.
The decree gives local authorities the power to control the movement of people and vehicles, impose restrictions on public transport and air travel, reduce entry to public buildings, and close some facilities with a high risk of infection.
This measure comes after a sharp increase in cases of Covid-19 disease over the past two weeks.