OREANDA-NEWS. Since May 19, museums, shops, cinemas, and restaurant verandas have opened in France after an almost six-month hiatus due to covid restrictions. The country's curfew has also been shortened: now it starts at 21:00 instead of 19:00.

Marking a new phase in the easing of quarantine measures, French President Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister Jean Castex drank a cup of coffee on the terrace of a restaurant near the Elysee Palace.

At the same time, the head of state noted that despite the improvement in the situation with morbidity, everyone must continue to be vigilant.

As reported by TASS, the French president recalled: "We have not yet overcome the epidemic, and this is just one of the stages. Success in combating the pandemic depends on our shared responsibility."

Over the entire time of the pandemic in France, more than 5.8 million people fell ill with coronavirus, over 108 thousand infected have died.

The first lockdown was introduced in France on March 17, 2020 and was valid until May 11, 2020. The authorities announced the second quarantine on October 30, it was canceled on December 15, 2020. In February 2021, France closed its borders to the entry and exit of all travelers who arrive from countries outside the EU.