<p>Boutiques in the centre of the French capital shut early and shoppers hurried home to meet a new 8:00 pm. curfew that took effect on Tuesday to try to prevent a new spike in Covid-19 infections.</p>.<p>"I completely lost track of time and didn't realise it was so late," said 40-year-old Paris resident Jun, who was in the Opera district just before curfew. "I'm going to head home."</p>.<p><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/coronavirus-live-news-covid-19-latest-updates.html" target="_blank"><strong>CORONAVIRUS SPECIAL COVERAGE ONLY ON DH</strong></a></p>.<p>Around the usually bustling shopping district, shop fronts were dark and of the few people on the streets, most were heading towards the metro station.</p>.<p>Tuesday brought new freedoms for people in France because it was the end of a stay-at-home order. This had meant that, around the clock, people could only venture out for a limited time and for essential trips, to shop, or to exercise.</p>.<p>But that was replaced instead with a nightly curfew. From 8:00 pm until 6:00 am people can only go out for work, on official business, or for medical reasons. Anyone breaking curfew is liable for a 135 euro ($164) fine.</p>.<p>Officials have warned that they will be strictly enforcing the new rules. Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin on Tuesday evening joined a police patrol in Yvelines, west of Paris, to check that people were complying.</p>.<p><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tag/coronavirus" target="_blank"><strong>For latest updates and live news on coronavirus, click here</strong></a></p>.<p>"The government has decided to be particularly tough on unlawful parties," the minister said.</p>.<p>Infection rates in France have declined sharply since the peak of the second wave last month. But scientists warn of the risk of a third wave of infection if people let down their guard during the Christmas and New Year holidays.</p>
<p>Boutiques in the centre of the French capital shut early and shoppers hurried home to meet a new 8:00 pm. curfew that took effect on Tuesday to try to prevent a new spike in Covid-19 infections.</p>.<p>"I completely lost track of time and didn't realise it was so late," said 40-year-old Paris resident Jun, who was in the Opera district just before curfew. "I'm going to head home."</p>.<p><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/coronavirus-live-news-covid-19-latest-updates.html" target="_blank"><strong>CORONAVIRUS SPECIAL COVERAGE ONLY ON DH</strong></a></p>.<p>Around the usually bustling shopping district, shop fronts were dark and of the few people on the streets, most were heading towards the metro station.</p>.<p>Tuesday brought new freedoms for people in France because it was the end of a stay-at-home order. This had meant that, around the clock, people could only venture out for a limited time and for essential trips, to shop, or to exercise.</p>.<p>But that was replaced instead with a nightly curfew. From 8:00 pm until 6:00 am people can only go out for work, on official business, or for medical reasons. Anyone breaking curfew is liable for a 135 euro ($164) fine.</p>.<p>Officials have warned that they will be strictly enforcing the new rules. Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin on Tuesday evening joined a police patrol in Yvelines, west of Paris, to check that people were complying.</p>.<p><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tag/coronavirus" target="_blank"><strong>For latest updates and live news on coronavirus, click here</strong></a></p>.<p>"The government has decided to be particularly tough on unlawful parties," the minister said.</p>.<p>Infection rates in France have declined sharply since the peak of the second wave last month. But scientists warn of the risk of a third wave of infection if people let down their guard during the Christmas and New Year holidays.</p>