Germany, France signal another wave of lockdowns to fight coronavirus cases

Germany and France are signaling their intents to impose a new round of COVID-19 lockdowns, after roughly a year of mitigation measures have failed to eradicate the virus from within their borders.

COVID-19 positive tests have been rising in France since roughly early December. The country on Friday imposed a fresh set of lockdowns, with “nonessential” stores in multiple regions being ordered to close. Residents of Paris will reportedly have to display documents authorizing them to take walks, which are limited to a six-mile radius around their homes. 

In Germany, health minister Jens Spahn said the country may re-impose lockdown measures as positive test results also increase in that country.

Cases began increasing in that country in mid-February before spiking sharply in mid-March.

“The rising case numbers may mean that we cannot take further opening steps in the weeks to come,” Spahn said. “On the contrary, we may even have to take steps backwards.”

Germany and France were last year hailed as notable success stories in fighting COVID. The New York Times last June declared the French government had “beaten back the coronavirus,” while Germany in the spring was praised as a “global leader on COVID-19 response.”