Locals, visitors react as curfew clears Paris streets

Streets and footpaths in central Paris were quiet on Saturday night as a 9pm curfew entered into force, in a bid to limit the resurgent coronavirus.

Restaurants, bars, movie theatres and other establishments were forced to close no later than 9pm to try to reduce contact among people.

The restrictions apply in the capital as well as eight other regions.

France has deployed 12,000 extra police officers to enforce the new rules.

Many restaurant owners have bristled at the order after an earlier months-long lockdown devastated the sector.