For the first time in the pandemic, France has reported more than 100,000 viral infections in a single day, and COVID-19 hospitalization have doubled in the last month, complicating the French government's efforts to avoid a new lockdown.

According to the regional health authority, more than one in every 100 persons in the Paris region has tested positive in the last week. The omicron variety, which government specialists predict will become dominant in France in the coming days, is responsible for the vast majority of new infections. Omicron already has a foothold in the United Kingdom.

Meanwhile, a recent spike in delta variant infections has pushed up hospital admissions in France, putting ICUs back under strain during the holidays. Almost 1,000 people have died in France as a result of the virus in the last week, increasing the country's total death toll to over 122,000.

The government of President Emmanuel Macron is hosting emergency meetings on Monday to consider the virus's next actions. Some scientists and educators have advised delaying the return to school after the holidays or reimposing a curfew. However, France's education minister has stated that schools would open as usual on January 3rd, and other government officials are seeking to avoid steps that might impede the country's recovery.

Instead, France's government is hopeful that increased vaccines would suffice. Instead of the present health pass system, which enables people to submit a negative test or proof of recovery if they are not vaccinated, the government is promoting a draught bill that would compel vaccination to enter all restaurants and many public places. On Sunday, the government of Belgium enforced new rules that required cultural facilities such as movie theatres and concert halls to close.

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