Paris bars and cafes will shut for two weeks after the city and its region were placed on maximum alert this morning.
With the rate of new infections, hospitalisations and deaths accelerating months after the lifting of a nationwide lockdown, new rules to enforce social distancing will enter into force tomorrow.
"These are braking measures because the epidemic is moving too fast," Paris police chief Didier Lallement told journalists.
"From tomorrow, all bars will be closed."
France reported nearly 17,000 new coronavirus cases on Saturday alone, the highest daily number since the country began widespread testing.
For Paris, the number was about 3,500 new cases every day - with a high of nearly 6,000 recorded last Monday, said Aurelien Rousseau, director of the ARS regional health agency.
He urged inhabitants of Paris and its suburbs, which jointly form the Ile-de-France region, to go back to working from home as much as possible.
Bars in Paris have continued to draw large crowds of people often flouting physical distancing and mask-wearing guidelines.
But some in the industry said they feel unfairly singled out by the government.
"Everything is clean, everybody wears masks. When people entertain at home that's when they become irresponsible. Nobody wears a mask during an evening with friends, me included," one employee at a cafe in central Paris said.
Additional measures in Paris come as Europe, which has recorded 235,553 deaths, is approaching a caseload of six million out of the more than 35.2 million cases officially diagnosed across the world.
New Zealand 'beat the virus again' - Ardern
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has declared that New Zealand "beat the virus again" and announced restrictions in the country's largest city would be eased, after a second Covid-19 wave was contained.
The virus was believed to have been eradicated in late May after a strict national lockdown led to New Zealanders enjoying 102 days without community transmission.
But a new cluster emerged in Auckland in August, forcing the city of 1.5 million people into lockdown for almost three weeks.
With no new confirmed cases in Auckland for 12 days, Ms Ardern said the virus was now under control and congratulated residents for enduring the second lockdown.
"It felt longer and dragged on in what was already starting to feel like a very long year," she said.
"But despite this, Aucklanders and New Zealanders stuck to the plan that has worked twice now, and beat the virus again."
She said from late on Wednesday Auckland would join the rest of New Zealand on level one, the lowest rating on the government's four-tier virus alert system.
Under the change, there are no restrictions on social gatherings, allowing the second Bledisloe Cup Test in Auckland on 18 October to be played in front of a full stadium at Eden Park.
"This is positive news that (Auckland fans) will be able to enjoy Test match rugby," New Zealand Rugby said in a statement.
New Zealand has recorded just 25 Covid-19 deaths in a population of five million, with 40 active cases in the country today.
But Ms Ardern, who faces a general election on 17 October, warned success could not be taken for granted.
She pointed to a decline in the use of the official Covid-19 tracing app and falling virus test numbers.
"A resurgence of the virus is not our only worry, resurgence of complacency is right up there too," Ms Ardern said.
EU's von der Leyen self-isolates over close contact with positive case
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is in self-isolation after she was in close contact with someone who tested positive for Covid-19.
In a tweet, Ms von der Leyen said she was at a meeting last Tuesday with the person and has been self-isolating since then "in accordance with regulations".
She said she expects to end the self-isolation period tomorrow having already tested negative for the virus.
I've been informed that I participated in a meeting last Tuesday attended by a person who yesterday tested positive for COVID-19. In accordance with regulations in force, I’m therefore self-isolating until tomorrow morning. I’ve tested negative on Thursday & am tested again today
— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) October 5, 2020
