France rolls out lockdown measures with gatherings banned & work from home to stop Omicron ‘MEGA WAVE’ as cases hit 100k

FRANCE has ramped up its Covid restrictions amid fears of a “megawave” of Omicron as the country recorded more than 100,000 new cases. Starting from next week, working from home will become compulsory for those who can and public gatherings will be limited to 2,000 people for indoor events. PAFrance has been hit with a record number of new cases amid fears of a covid ‘mega wave’[/caption] Our graph lays bare the surging number of new cases in France The news comes as France recorded more than 100,000 new infections on Saturday — the a new record. since the pandemic began. A string of hugely positive studies show Omicron IS milder than other strains, with the first official UK report revealing the risk of hospitalisation is 50 to 70 per cent lower than with Delta. Covid booster jabs protect against Omicron and offer the best chance to get through the pandemic, health officials have repeatedly said. The Sun’s Jabs Army campaign is helping get the vital extra vaccines in Brits’ arms to ward off the need for any new restrictions. But while Omicron is more milder than the Delta variant, there are fears in France the sheer number of new cases being reported there could overwhelm hospitals. Unveiling the new measures, French Prime Minister Jean Castex said the covid crisis felt like “a film without ending”. Most read in The Sun 'ANTI-VAX' POST Jordan Pickford's wife Megan Davison reposts 'anti-vax' message online CHIP OFF THE OLD BECK Romeo, 19, becomes richest of Beckham kids after 7-figure Puma deal BIRTH BLUNDER EastEnders fans spot something wrong after Chelsea gives birth to Gray’s baby STEER CLEAR Young drivers won't need to learn how to CHANGE GEAR ahead of major rule change CROSSBOW CHILLER Masked man with crossbow threatens to assassinate Queen in chilling video DEREK'S DELIGHT Derek Draper beams on trip to panto with Kate Garraway after his Covid hell Mr Castex said: “We are in a race against the clock. “Even if we do not yet see hospitals as overloaded by Omicron, the contagiousness of the variant and the speed at which it is spreading require us to go further.” Follow our Omicron Covid live blog for all the latest news & stories Health minister Oliver Véran said that Covid case numbers are doubling every two days and warned of a “mega wave” when the fifth wave of cases of the Delta variant of the virus collides with the new wave of Omicron cases. Under the new rules in France, people will also have to sit down during concerts and customers will not be allowed to stand up in bars. Consumption of food and drink will be banned in public passenger transport — including long-distance trains — as well as in cinemas. It comes as French Health Minister Olivier Véran warned of a “mega wave” of new cases because coronavirus infections were doubling every two days. We are in a race against the clock Jean Castex French Prime Minister But the French government did stop short of imposing drastic restrictions before New Year’s Eve. European countries are tightening Covid rules as infections rise and the new Omicron variant spreads through the continent. More than 16,000 are currently hospitalised for the virus in France, including 3,300 patients in intensive care. The head of the ICU at La Timone hospital in Marseille, France, said most Covid patients over Christmas had not received any Covid inoculations. Dr. Julien Carvelli told how hospital staff are worn out amid the surge while many cannot work as they have also become infected. “We’re sick of this,” he fumed. “We’re afraid we won’t have enough space.” The country has recorded over 1,000 deaths over the last seven days, bringing the total death toll to over 122,000. AFPNursing assistants tend to a patient infected with the coronavirus at the Antoine Beclere hospital in Clamart, outside Paris[/caption] AFPFrance’s Prime Minister Jean Castex said the pandemic ‘felt like a film without an ending’[/caption]