Europeans tighten virus curbs with France 'critical'

France, Belgium, and Poland on March 27 tightened curbs as coronavirus cases surged in Europe while the Philippines readied for a giant lockdown and Chile confined over 80 percent of its population.

France admitted the situation is "critical" and added three more departments to the 16 already under tight restrictions.

Twenty million people in France, including the greater Paris region, are classed as living in high-infection zones.
They are not allowed to travel further than 10 kilometers from home without an essential reason.

Daily cases in France have nearly doubled since the start of the month and there have been more than 200,000 new cases every week.

But that did not stop a crowd turning out for a protest concert outside Saturday evening in central Paris.

Numbers in France's intensive care wards are close to record highs in November and still climbing.

In stark contrast, across the Channel people are relishing the prospect of a pint and a haircut as Prime Minister Boris Johnson vows to stick to his plan to unwind anti-COVID measures.

Johnson said his government's successful mass vaccination drive and pro-business policies would hasten economic recovery, "jab by jab, job by job".

"In just a few days' time, I'm finally going to be able to go to the barbers," the mop-haired PM added.
Wales became the first UK nation to lift travel restrictions on Saturday.

From Monday, England's stay-at-home order will be relaxed allowing groups of up to six people to meet outside.

The government plans to allow outdoors drinking in pub gardens, and non-essential retail such as hairdressers, from April 12.

Meanwhile, on the continent, Belgium closed all businesses involving non-medical physical...