France is closing nightclubs for four weeks as COVID-19 cases continue to surge in the country, The New York Times reported.
Government officials explained the decision to shut down nightclubs is because of a rise of infections among young people. They cast the decision as a step that falls short of broader lockdowns amid fears of the new omicron variant of the coronavirus across Europe.
“The time is not for gauges, curfews or lockdowns — that would be disproportionate,” Prime Minister Jean Castex said at a news conference Monday. “However, the circumstances require an individual and collective effort to ensure everyone limits risks of contamination.”
Castex also urged companies to have employees continue working from home and encouraged residents to limit end-of-year social interactions stemming from holiday parties, according to the Times.
This comes as Castex along with Health Minister Olivier Véran said children ages 5 to 11 with certain health conditions are eligible to get vaccinated and citizens 65 and older can get their booster shots.
France has reported an average of 43,000 new daily infections of the coronavirus and more than 12,000 patients are currently hospitalized with COVID-19, the most since August, The Times reported.