France’s virus curfew leaves Paris streets empty

The Avenue des Champs-Elysees is deserted during the curfew in Paris (Lewis Joly/AP)

The streets of Paris and eight other French cities were deserted on Saturday night on the first day of the government-imposed 9pm curfew.

The measure was announced this week by French President Emmanuel Macron to curb the resurgent coronavirus, as new daily infections peaked last week at more than 30,000.