France to reopen restaurants, bars and beaches from June 2 - PM

French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe. /VCG Photo

France will allow restaurants, bars and beaches to reopen from June 2, Prime Minister Edouard Philippe said on Thursday.

Philippe said that in "green" areas where the virus circulates slowly - most of continental France - the only limit will be that there needs to be a minimum distance of 1 metre between tables. In "orange" areas such as the Ile de France region around Paris, bars, restaurants and cafes will only be allowed to open their outdoor terraces.

Philippe also said that France's beaches will reopen from June 2.

France is one of the world's worst affected country by the COVID-19 pandemic. The country has registered 183,038 cases and 28,599 deaths as the world continues to battle the pandemic.

The country is one of only six nations globally to have recorded more than 20,000 COVID-19-related deaths.

Source(s): Reuters