IN DETAIL: Which 20 French départements face new restrictions and why?
The French PM announced on Thursday that 20 départements across the country face new restrictions such as weekend lockdowns, due to the rising Covid-19 infection rates.
The French government is sticking to its policy of imposing "case by case" local restrictions to try and stem the virus in those areas where it is spreading rapidly while sparing the rest of the country from another nationwide lockdown.
Consultations will now take place between locally elected officials with a view to imposing restrictions such as weekend lockdowns from March 6th.
The following départements have been place on "heightened surveillance" due to rising infection rates. The figures given below were as on February 25th.
Dans ces 20 départements, les préfets engageront des concertations avec les élus pour inviter sans attendre les habitants à la plus grande vigilance et envisager, dans tout ou partie de ces territoires, des mesures de freinage proches de celles mises en place à Nice et Dunkerque. pic.twitter.com/8AkpGrGsBx
— Jean Castex (@JeanCASTEX) February 25, 2021
Île-de-France
Paris
Paris has seen rising infection rates in recent days after numbers began to fall earlier in February. The incidence rate passed the 300 mark (304 per 100,000 inhabitants over 7 days) on February 23rd. Some 58 percent of intensive care beds in the capital's hospitals were taken whilst the positivity rate of tests had risen to 4.9 percent. Only 4.3 percent of the population of Paris has been vaccinated.
Seine-Saint-Denis
The département to the north of Paris had an incidence rate of 318 per 100,000 inhabitants over 7 days, but 98 percent of intensive care beds in hospitals were taken whilst the positivity rate of tests had risen to 9.4 percent. Only 2.31 percent of the population of Seine-Saint-Denis has been vaccinated.
Val-de-Marne
The département to the south of Paris had an incidence rate of 301 per 100,000 inhabitants over 7 days, with 57 percent of intensive care beds in hospitals taken whilst the positivity rate of tests had risen to 7.8 percent. Only 3.03 percent of the population of Val-de-Marne has been vaccinated.
Seine-et-Marne
The département in the Île-de-France region had an incidence rate of 284 per 100,000 inhabitants over 7 days, with 105 percent of normal intensive care capacity in hospitals taken whilst the positivity rate of tests had risen to 8.5 percent. Only 2.46 percent of the population of Seine-et-Marne has been vaccinated.
Essonne
The département in the Île-de-France region had an incidence rate of 257 per 100,000 inhabitants over 7 days, with 81 percent of intensive care beds in hospitals taken whilst the positivity rate of tests had risen to 7.7 percent. Only 2.85 percent of the population of Essonne has been vaccinated.
Hauts-de-Seine
The département in the Île-de-France region had an incidence rate of 244 per 100,000 inhabitants over 7 days, with 79 percent of intensive care beds in hospitals taken whilst the positivity rate of tests had risen to 5.3 percent. Only 2.82 percent of the population of Hauts-de-Seine has been vaccinated.
Yvelines
The département of Yvelines in the Île-de-France region had an incidence rate of 244 per 100,000 inhabitants over 7 days, with 49 percent of intensive care beds in hospitals taken whilst the positivity rate of tests had risen to 6.7 percent. Only 2.82 percent of the population of Yvelines has been vaccinated.
Val-de-Oise
The Val-de-Oise département in Île-de-France had an incidence rate of 279 per 100,000 inhabitants over 7 days, with 78 percent of intensive care beds in hospitals taken. The positivity rate of tests had stood at 8.3percent. Only 2.82 percent of the population has been vaccinated.
Northern France
Pas-de-Calais
The département in the northern France Hauts-de-France region had an incidence rate of 352 per 100,000 inhabitants over 7 days, with 135 percent of normal intensive care capacity in hospitals taken whilst the positivity rate of tests had risen to 7.9 percent. Only 2.66 percent of the population of Pas-de-Calais has been vaccinated.
Nord
The Nord département, which is home to Dunkirk where a weekend lockdown will begin on Friday, had an incidence rate of 304 per 100,000 inhabitants over 7 days, with 64 percent of intensive care beds in hospitals taken. The positivity rate of tests had stood at 6.9 percent. Only 3.05 percent of the population of Nord has been vaccinated.
Somme
The Somme département in northern France had an incidence rate of 297 per 100,000 inhabitants over 7 days, with 67 percent of intensive care beds in hospitals taken. The positivity rate of tests had stood at 7.5 percent. Only 3.8 percent of the population of Somme has been vaccinated.
Oise
The Oise département in northern France had an incidence rate of 267 per 100,000 inhabitants over 7 days, with 131 percent of normal intensive care capacity in hospitals occupied. The positivity rate of tests had stood at 7.9 percent. Only 2.6 percent of the population of Oise has been vaccinated.
Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region
Bouches-du-Rhône
The Bouches-du-Rhône département in south-eastern France, which is home to the city of Marseille, had an incidence rate of 335 per 100,000 inhabitants over 7 days, with 91 percent of intensive care beds in hospitals occupied. The positivity rate of tests had stood at 6.4 percent. Only 4.04 percent of the population of Bouches-du-Rhône has been vaccinated.
Var
The coastal Var département in south-eastern France had an incidence rate of 314 per 100,000 inhabitants over 7 days, with 112 percent of normal intensive care capacity in hospitals occupied. The positivity rate of tests had stood at 6.9 percent. Only 4.33 percent of the population of Var has been vaccinated.
Alpes-Maritimes
Much of Alpes-Maritimes is already subject to a new weekend lockdown for at least two weeks including the city of Nice. The Alpes-Maritimes département had an incidence rate of 600 per 100,000 inhabitants over 7 days - by far the highest in France at départment level.
Some 133 percent of normal intensive care capacity in hospitals occupied and hospitals in the area have been forced to transfer seriously ill patients to other regions. The positivity rate of tests had stood at 10.1 percent. Only 4.27 percent of the population of Alpes-Maritimes has been vaccinated.
Other départements on alert
Eure-et-Loire
The Eure-et-Loire département in central France had an incidence rate of 213 per 100,000 inhabitants over 7 days, with 130 percent of intensive care beds in hospitals occupied. The positivity rate of tests had stood at 7.1 percent. Only 3.98 percent of the population has been vaccinated.
Rhône
The Rhône département in central France, which is home to Lyon, had an incidence rate of 222 per 100,000 inhabitants over 7 days, with 80 percent of intensive care beds in hospitals occupied. The positivity rate of tests had stood at 7.5 percent. Only 3.38 percent of the population of Rhône has been vaccinated.
Drôme
The Drôme département in south-eastern France had an incidence rate of 232 per 100,000 inhabitants over 7 days, with 122 percent of normal intensive care capacity in hospitals occupied. The positivity rate of tests had stood at 9.3 percent. Only 4.35 percent of the population of Drôme has been vaccinated.
Meurthe-et-Moselle
The Meurthe-et-Moselle département in eastern France had an incidence rate of 209 per 100,000 inhabitants over 7 days, with 60 percent of intensive care beds in hospitals occupied. The positivity rate of tests had stood at 4.6 percent. Only 3.83 percent of the population of Meurthe-et-Moselle has been vaccinated.
Moselle
The Moselle département in eastern France has been under scrutiny due to the rise in South African and Brazilian variants of the virus. It had an incidence rate of 311 per 100,000 inhabitants over 7 days, with 91 percent of intensive care beds in hospitals occupied. The positivity rate of tests had stood at 5.1 percent. Only 4.43 percent of the population of Moselle has been vaccinated.
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The French government is sticking to its policy of imposing "case by case" local restrictions to try and stem the virus in those areas where it is spreading rapidly while sparing the rest of the country from another nationwide lockdown.
Consultations will now take place between locally elected officials with a view to imposing restrictions such as weekend lockdowns from March 6th.
The following départements have been place on "heightened surveillance" due to rising infection rates. The figures given below were as on February 25th.
Dans ces 20 départements, les préfets engageront des concertations avec les élus pour inviter sans attendre les habitants à la plus grande vigilance et envisager, dans tout ou partie de ces territoires, des mesures de freinage proches de celles mises en place à Nice et Dunkerque. pic.twitter.com/8AkpGrGsBx
— Jean Castex (@JeanCASTEX) February 25, 2021
Île-de-France
Paris
Paris has seen rising infection rates in recent days after numbers began to fall earlier in February. The incidence rate passed the 300 mark (304 per 100,000 inhabitants over 7 days) on February 23rd. Some 58 percent of intensive care beds in the capital's hospitals were taken whilst the positivity rate of tests had risen to 4.9 percent. Only 4.3 percent of the population of Paris has been vaccinated.
Seine-Saint-Denis
The département to the north of Paris had an incidence rate of 318 per 100,000 inhabitants over 7 days, but 98 percent of intensive care beds in hospitals were taken whilst the positivity rate of tests had risen to 9.4 percent. Only 2.31 percent of the population of Seine-Saint-Denis has been vaccinated.
Val-de-Marne
The département to the south of Paris had an incidence rate of 301 per 100,000 inhabitants over 7 days, with 57 percent of intensive care beds in hospitals taken whilst the positivity rate of tests had risen to 7.8 percent. Only 3.03 percent of the population of Val-de-Marne has been vaccinated.
Seine-et-Marne
The département in the Île-de-France region had an incidence rate of 284 per 100,000 inhabitants over 7 days, with 105 percent of normal intensive care capacity in hospitals taken whilst the positivity rate of tests had risen to 8.5 percent. Only 2.46 percent of the population of Seine-et-Marne has been vaccinated.
Essonne
The département in the Île-de-France region had an incidence rate of 257 per 100,000 inhabitants over 7 days, with 81 percent of intensive care beds in hospitals taken whilst the positivity rate of tests had risen to 7.7 percent. Only 2.85 percent of the population of Essonne has been vaccinated.
Hauts-de-Seine
The département in the Île-de-France region had an incidence rate of 244 per 100,000 inhabitants over 7 days, with 79 percent of intensive care beds in hospitals taken whilst the positivity rate of tests had risen to 5.3 percent. Only 2.82 percent of the population of Hauts-de-Seine has been vaccinated.
Yvelines
The département of Yvelines in the Île-de-France region had an incidence rate of 244 per 100,000 inhabitants over 7 days, with 49 percent of intensive care beds in hospitals taken whilst the positivity rate of tests had risen to 6.7 percent. Only 2.82 percent of the population of Yvelines has been vaccinated.
Val-de-Oise
The Val-de-Oise département in Île-de-France had an incidence rate of 279 per 100,000 inhabitants over 7 days, with 78 percent of intensive care beds in hospitals taken. The positivity rate of tests had stood at 8.3percent. Only 2.82 percent of the population has been vaccinated.
Northern France
Pas-de-Calais
The département in the northern France Hauts-de-France region had an incidence rate of 352 per 100,000 inhabitants over 7 days, with 135 percent of normal intensive care capacity in hospitals taken whilst the positivity rate of tests had risen to 7.9 percent. Only 2.66 percent of the population of Pas-de-Calais has been vaccinated.
Nord
The Nord département, which is home to Dunkirk where a weekend lockdown will begin on Friday, had an incidence rate of 304 per 100,000 inhabitants over 7 days, with 64 percent of intensive care beds in hospitals taken. The positivity rate of tests had stood at 6.9 percent. Only 3.05 percent of the population of Nord has been vaccinated.
Somme
The Somme département in northern France had an incidence rate of 297 per 100,000 inhabitants over 7 days, with 67 percent of intensive care beds in hospitals taken. The positivity rate of tests had stood at 7.5 percent. Only 3.8 percent of the population of Somme has been vaccinated.
Oise
The Oise département in northern France had an incidence rate of 267 per 100,000 inhabitants over 7 days, with 131 percent of normal intensive care capacity in hospitals occupied. The positivity rate of tests had stood at 7.9 percent. Only 2.6 percent of the population of Oise has been vaccinated.
Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region
Bouches-du-Rhône
The Bouches-du-Rhône département in south-eastern France, which is home to the city of Marseille, had an incidence rate of 335 per 100,000 inhabitants over 7 days, with 91 percent of intensive care beds in hospitals occupied. The positivity rate of tests had stood at 6.4 percent. Only 4.04 percent of the population of Bouches-du-Rhône has been vaccinated.
Var
The coastal Var département in south-eastern France had an incidence rate of 314 per 100,000 inhabitants over 7 days, with 112 percent of normal intensive care capacity in hospitals occupied. The positivity rate of tests had stood at 6.9 percent. Only 4.33 percent of the population of Var has been vaccinated.
Alpes-Maritimes
Much of Alpes-Maritimes is already subject to a new weekend lockdown for at least two weeks including the city of Nice. The Alpes-Maritimes département had an incidence rate of 600 per 100,000 inhabitants over 7 days - by far the highest in France at départment level.
Some 133 percent of normal intensive care capacity in hospitals occupied and hospitals in the area have been forced to transfer seriously ill patients to other regions. The positivity rate of tests had stood at 10.1 percent. Only 4.27 percent of the population of Alpes-Maritimes has been vaccinated.
Other départements on alert
Eure-et-Loire
The Eure-et-Loire département in central France had an incidence rate of 213 per 100,000 inhabitants over 7 days, with 130 percent of intensive care beds in hospitals occupied. The positivity rate of tests had stood at 7.1 percent. Only 3.98 percent of the population has been vaccinated.
Rhône
The Rhône département in central France, which is home to Lyon, had an incidence rate of 222 per 100,000 inhabitants over 7 days, with 80 percent of intensive care beds in hospitals occupied. The positivity rate of tests had stood at 7.5 percent. Only 3.38 percent of the population of Rhône has been vaccinated.
Drôme
The Drôme département in south-eastern France had an incidence rate of 232 per 100,000 inhabitants over 7 days, with 122 percent of normal intensive care capacity in hospitals occupied. The positivity rate of tests had stood at 9.3 percent. Only 4.35 percent of the population of Drôme has been vaccinated.
Meurthe-et-Moselle
The Meurthe-et-Moselle département in eastern France had an incidence rate of 209 per 100,000 inhabitants over 7 days, with 60 percent of intensive care beds in hospitals occupied. The positivity rate of tests had stood at 4.6 percent. Only 3.83 percent of the population of Meurthe-et-Moselle has been vaccinated.
Moselle
The Moselle département in eastern France has been under scrutiny due to the rise in South African and Brazilian variants of the virus. It had an incidence rate of 311 per 100,000 inhabitants over 7 days, with 91 percent of intensive care beds in hospitals occupied. The positivity rate of tests had stood at 5.1 percent. Only 4.43 percent of the population of Moselle has been vaccinated.
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