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Paris Bans Daytime Jogging Amid Coronavirus Lockdown

By Michael Bamidele

08 April 2020   |   3:33 pm

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France's capital, Paris has banned daytime jogging as part of a renewed measure to stop people from flouting the coronavirus lockdown. On Tuesday, as France entered its fourth week of lockdown, Paris toughened the confinement rules announcing that from Wednesday Parisians would no longer be allowed to leave their homes for the purposes of physical…

Paris ban Jogging | Image: Getty Images/BBC

France’s capital, Paris has banned daytime jogging as part of a renewed measure to stop people from flouting the coronavirus lockdown.

On Tuesday, as France entered its fourth week of lockdown, Paris toughened the confinement rules announcing that from Wednesday Parisians would no longer be allowed to leave their homes for the purposes of physical exercise between 10 am and 7 pm, Agence France-Presse reports.

The move came just after Health Minister Olivier Veran announced Monday a record daily coronavirus death toll of 833 people in 24 hours. He said 478 people were admitted to intensive care in the period, a higher figure than in previous days.

“It is not over. Far from that. The path is long. The figures that I have announced show this,” the minister said, urging people to “stay at home and continue this confinement effort”.

Paris’ deputy mayor Emmanuel Gregoire then clarified that the rules apply only to people jogging or taking other exercises, not to dog walkers or people taking a short walk with members of their household, French news site, The Local reports.

“There are too many people out at the same time and too many joggers at peak times. Nothing is perfect: the aim is to limit risks by limiting overcrowding rather than a general ban.”.

“We are banning jogging during the day not leaving the house,” said Gregoire.

“Children must, exceptionally, be able to leave the home a little during the day, the same for animals. The objective is to avoid peaks (of joggers) at the end of the morning and in the afternoon.”

Cycling for exercise is banned altogether – although cycling to work or the supermarket is still allowed – and all group sports such as football are banned.