The authorities in France are implementing strict emergency measures, as the prolonged situation in French authorities are taking strict emergency measures , as the prolonged heat wave affecting the country has pushed the hospitals in Paris to their limits.
Starting at noon on Friday , a temporary ban on the consumption of alcohol in public spaces, while the sale of alcoholic beverages in stores is also restricted.
The head of the Paris police , Patrice Four, stated that the healthcare system has reached a tipping point, with hospital admissions rising steadily due to extreme temperatures.
“We need to ease the pressure on hospitals,” he said, explaining that alcohol consumption combined with the heat wave increases the risk of serious incidents and places an even greater burden on the healthcare system.
The ban will be in effect from 12:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. the following morning on both Friday and Saturday.
At the same time, from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. , the sale of alcohol by establishments for consumption off-premises will also be prohibited.
Restaurants and cafés with outdoor seating are exempt from these measures.
According to French Health Minister Stéphanie Rist, over the past 24 hours, ambulance services in Paris have recorded four times the normal number of cardiac arrests, while it is shocking that cases are even being reported among young people.
Death toll from the heat wave rises
The number of deaths from heatstroke in France since the start of the heat wave—during which two-thirds of the country is on high alert— has risen to 55, the French government announced today, expressing fears that the toll may rise further.
“Last night (Thursday), we were at 55 (drownings) but we fear that the situation will not turn out well,” said French Minister of Sports Marina Ferrari on franceinfo tv.
More than 51 million people have been facing unbearably high temperatures, which leads them—especially young people—to seek relief by going swimming, including in places that are dangerous or unsupervised.
