France's Bordeaux imposes stricter measures to curb coronavirus spread

France's southwestern region Nouvelle-Acquitaine announced stricter sanitary measures on Monday for public events and nursing homes aimed at containing a spike in coronavirus cases. France has faced a resurgence of the novel coronavirus, with daily confirmed cases reaching a record level last week. The government on Friday promised steps to speed up tests and toughen measures in high-infection zones to avert a return to the general lockdown imposed earlier this year.

France's southwestern region Nouvelle-Acquitaine announced stricter sanitary measures on Monday for public events and nursing homes aimed at containing a spike in coronavirus cases. France has faced a resurgence of the novel coronavirus, with daily confirmed cases reaching a record level last week.

The government on Friday promised steps to speed up tests and toughen measures in high-infection zones to avert a return to the general lockdown imposed earlier this year. A local official for the region that encompasses the city of Bordeaux cited measures such as limiting the number of guests for those in nursing homes to two each week and reducing public-event attendance numbers to 1,000 from 5,000.

The officials also canceled the cultural European Heritage Days in September in the region, banned drinking and eating in bars while standing, and public gatherings of 10 people or more in parks and beaches in Bordeaux. "This is to slow down significantly the circulation of the virus", Fabienne Buccio said during a press conference.