PARIS — Belgium has banned travel to Paris due to coronavirus concerns, classifying it as a “red zone,” the country’s foreign affairs ministry website said Wednesday.
Travel to several other French regions will also be restricted under this designation, including Seine-Saint-Denis, Val-de-Marne, Sarthe, Hérault, Alpes-Maritimes, Bouches-du-Rhône and French Guiana.
Many other French regions are in the so-called “orange zone,” meaning those returning from these high-risk areas are recommended to quarantine for two weeks or get tested.
France has seen a sharp increase in COVID-19 infections in recent weeks. Germany this week also issued a travel warning for the Paris region, as well as the French Riviera.
The number of infections in Belgium has shown a worrying trend over the last few weeks and keeping the situation in check is now priority No. 1, Inge Neven, Brussels’ head of health inspection, told broadcaster VRT.