The government will not go back on this.
The Council of State on Monday ruled out any modification of the curfew during Easter week.
It was demanded by two ultra-conservative Catholic associations who wanted the faithful to be able to celebrate the Easter Vigil after 7 p.m.
"The impossibility of going to a place of worship during the curfew, including during Easter week, does not constitute a manifestly disproportionate interference with the freedom of worship with regard to the objective of preserving public health ", Considers the highest administrative court, in a press release accompanying its decision.
It had been seized by the associations Civitas, a fundamentalist Catholic movement, and VIA La Voie du Peuple, a conservative party founded by Christine Boutin.
Parishes adapt their schedules
The Council of State observes in particular that "many parishes have adapted their schedules", with ceremonies which take place earlier in the afternoon, and that the conference of bishops of France has "proposed liturgical arrangements to celebrate the Easter vigil of April 3, taking into account the restrictions linked to the curfew ”.
In addition, he recalls that "the circulation of the virus on the metropolitan territory has increased in recent weeks" and considers that "in view of the current deterioration of the situation, the maintenance of a travel ban, between 7 pm and 6 am, is justified ”.
Religious services will take place.
Prime Minister Jean Castex has kept masses and ceremonies accessible to the public, with the same gauges set since December.
That is, two seats between each person or family entity and every other row occupied.
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Confinement: an Easter weekend without family meals but with religious services
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On Monday, 4,974 Covid-19 patients were in an intensive care unit in France, thus exceeding the peak observed during the second wave of the epidemic in the fall.
In 24 hours, 362 Covid patients died in hospital, according to figures from the French public health agency.