France Tightens Virus Measures As Brazil Ends Deadliest Month

France became the latest European country to relent to stubbornly high coronavirus cases despite Macron repeatedly vowing not to reintroduce a national lockdown.

French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday announced a limited nationwide lockdown to battle soaring Covid-19 cases, while Brazil feared further devastation was ahead after its deadliest month of the pandemic so far. France became the latest European country to relent to stubbornly high coronavirus cases despite Macron repeatedly vowing not to reintroduce a national lockdown, even going against the recommendation of his scientific advisers for one in January. But with daily cases having doubled to around 40,000 and hospitals in infection hotspots like Paris overflowing, Macron said the current measures "were too limited at a time when the epidemic is accelerating". The limited lockdown already in place in regions including Paris would be extended to the whole country from Saturday night for the next four weeks, he said, while schools would close for the next three weeks -- two of which are spring holidays.