France Government has announced the closing of its borders to non European Union countries from Sunday in a bid to curtail the spread of theCOVID-19 new variant.

The French Prime Minister, Jean Castex, announced the directive after an emergency government health security meeting at the Presidential Palace, warning of a ‘great risk’ from the new variants.

 He stated that all those arriving from other EU countries will be required to produce a negative COVID-19 test.

Besides, all large shopping centres will be closed from Sunday and travel to and from its overseas territories will be limited.

Virus infections, hospital admissions and deaths have been rising steadily but not sharply in recent weeks in the country.

Mr Castex addressed that the measures are attempt to avoid the economic cost of a third lockdown, explaining that  “Our duty is to put everything in place to avoid a new lockdown, and the coming days will be decisive.

“More than ever we should do everything to respect the rules.”

Currently, more than 60 per cent of intensive care beds are occupied by coronavirus patients.

 France has reported more than 75,000 deaths, the seventh highest in the world.

However,many doctors have been urging for a new nationwide shutdown like those imposed in several other European countries.