French broadcasting group TF1 reported on Sunday that Mr Macron’s government were preparing to decide on a “curfew” for New Year’s Eve celebrations. An advisor told the TF1 news channel La Chaîne Info that “the question is posed” as COVID-19 cases spike in the country. The media outlet added: “The possibility will be decided at the Health Defence Council to be held this Monday.”
Health officials had warned that emergency services risked being overwhelmed with hospitalisations after France recorded over 100,000 cases in a single day on Saturday, which is the highest daily rate since the beginning of the pandemic.
Just short of 3,300 people are in intensive care, reports France24.
This number exceeds the figure of 3,000, which was set in France as the crisis threshold for dealing with severe illness from COVID-19.
Mr Macron is expected to hold a meeting at 15.00 GMT on Monday to discuss the escalating case numbers with French health officials.
Many of the planned New Year’s Eve celebrations organised across the country have already been cancelled ahead of any announcement Mr Macron will make after this meeting.
A curfew was also in place for France last year over the New Year’s Eve period.
The suggestion of tightened restrictions in the country has prompted anger from many
Former MEP and founder of the vocally Eurosceptic Patriots party, Florian Philippot, tweeted: “Curfew on 31 December, like last year?
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“COVID-19 is still circulating and they are locking us up even more. STOP!”
Around 22 million people, out of the 40 million who are eligible in France, have received a COVID-19 vaccine booster jab.
However, data from the health ministry showed that approximately 9 in 10 people over the age of 18 are fully vaccinated in France.
France has required people to have a health pass since the summer, meaning that proof of vaccination, recent recovery from the disease or a negative test from the last 48 hours is needed for access to hospitality, large events and long-distance travel across the country.
It applies to anyone over the age of 12.
Additional reporting by Maria Ortega.