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The Guardian’s Paris correspondent has more on the situation in France, where a minister has cautioned restauranteurs about reopening in protest against coronavirus measures.
Kim Willsher writes:
French finance minister Bruno Le Maire has responded to threats that certain restaurants will open illegally today to protest against coronavirus closures.
Bars, restaurants, cafés, and brasseries have been closed since the second nationwide lockdown at the end of October. The lockdown was lifted in December, but the restaurants and other establishments offering food and drink were ordered to remain closed.
Portugal reported nearly half of its total coronavirus death toll during January, underlining the rapid worsening of the pandemic as officials blamed the UK variant and relaxation of restrictions over Christmas for the surge.
The country had largely been spared by the first waves of the virus.
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