Paris placed under maximum Covid alert, bars, cafés face two-week closure

The French government has declared Paris under maximum Covid-19 alert due to alarmingly high infection numbers, meaning bars and cafés may face a forced two-week shutdown from Tuesday. Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo is to unveil the conditions on Monday. Restaurants look set to remain open under tightened sanitary protocols. Health Minister Olivier Veran announced on Thursday that only improved Covid-19 infection rates could prevent "total closures" of the city's trademark cafes