Mr Macron mentioned throughout a public broadcast to announce new lockdown restrictions: “These previous couple of weeks, we’re confronted with a brand new state of affairs.

“In truth, from the primary days of the month, we are actually in a race. 

“On one hand with the deployment of vaccinations which we’re [hoping we will] be capable of get out us of the disaster and I am going to come again to that. 

“After which secondly propagation all through Europe of a brand new variant. 

“This variant which was recognized for the primary time from our British neighbours on the finish of final yr. 

“And to a sure extent, in fact, gave rise to an epidemic inside the epidemic and that’s better than final spring. 

“So, subsequently, there is no metropolitan area that now has been saved from it and it is also extra harmful than within the autumn so it signifies that the virus is [not only] extra contagious but additionally can kill. 

“In truth, intensive care companies are actually having to take care of people who find themselves wholesome.

“44 % of the sufferers who’re in intensive care at this time are lower than 65 years previous.”

Earlier this week, France reported greater than 5,000 sufferers are in intensive care – the very best quantity this yr.

A YouGov ballot additionally revealed vaccine hesitancy in France is extraordinarily excessive with round 61 % of French respondents believing the AstraZeneca vaccine is unsafe. 

French scientists have additionally found a number of new variants within the nation, together with the Brittany variant which isn’t simply detectable on PCR assessments. 

Different European nations are additionally dealing with new Covid waves with German Chancellor Angela Merkel grappling with federal state leaders to implement “emergency brake” measures to restrict the an infection charge.