In a televised address on Wednesday evening, French President Emmanuel Macron announced a national lockdown on public movement beginning on Friday and which will last at least until December 1st, as the country witnesses a sharp rise in Covid-19 infections.
"There must be a brutal brake of contaminations to avoid the saturation of hospitals," said Macron.
"We know that whatever we do, close to 9,000 patients will be in intensive care by the middle of November," he added.
According to figures released on Wednedsay, a total of 3,045 people were being treated for Covid-19 in intensive care units in France, representing a rise of just more than 1,000 over the past ten days. Since the beginning of the year, the total number of recorded deaths from Covid-19 in French hospitals and care homes is 35,785.
The measures largely mirror the two-month lockdown introduced in March, but there will be fewer restrictions for economic activity in production and building sectors, and visits to care homes will be allowed.
Only essential high street businesses like food shops and chemist stores will be permitted to remain open.
Macron urged employers to allow their staf to work from home where possible.
Every individual will be required to carry a written and signed attestation justifying their movement outside their home. Movement will be largely limited to commuting to and from work, shopping for essential goods, attending medical appointments, bringing help for persons in need or for brief exercise for people and pets..
Schools and nurseries will remain open however, but not higher education establishments which will be required to lead their courses online.
Movement between regions will be prohibted, except if justified by a person's working obligations.
Prime Minister Jean Castex is due to detail the measures further at a press conference on Thursday.