COVID in Europe: France follows Denmark and begins lifting restrictions

France has become the latest European country to begin lifting anti-COVID restrictions, despite a high number of infections.

From Wednesday, face masks will no longer be mandatory outdoors across the country, while working from home is now only a recommendation.

Stadiums, cultural venues and outdoor venues are no longer limited to a certain capacity, authorities added. Nightclubs will remain closed until a planned reopening on February 16.

Indoor concert halls had previously been limited to only 2,000 people, while outdoor areas were held to just 5,000 capacity.

But French citizens will still require proof of vaccination or recovery to enter bars, restaurants, other venues and use long-distance public transport.

France says it will remain "vigilant" despite announcing the first stage of easing COVID-19 restrictions.

Government spokesman Gabriel Attal said a reduction in new case numbers in recent days was "very encouraging" but urged people to "remain cautious".

The number of patients in intensive care in France has remained almost stable over the week at around 3,700 people, but hospital admissions continue to rise.

On Tuesday, the director-general of the World Health Organisation (WHO) warned that it was too early for countries to declare victory over COVID-19.

"More transmission means more deaths," Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a news conference.

"We are concerned that a narrative has taken hold in some countries that because of vaccines and the high transmissibility of Omicron, and its lesser severity, preventing transmission is no longer possible," he added.

"We are not asking any country to reinstate containment. But we are calling on all countries to protect their populations using all available tools, not just