Paris under Covid-19 curfew [in photos]

Empty streets in Montmartre at the start of the late-night curfew on Saturday 17 October, 2020. © Reuters/Charles Platiau

The French government announced on Wednesday a 9 pm to 6 am curfew for densely-populated Paris and eight other French cities -- some 20 million inhabitants -- and imposed a limit of six on home gatherings blamed for a large proportion of new coronavirus infections.

On Saturday, a total of 1,350 police and gendarmes were deployed in Paris and its suburbs to ensure compliance with the latest restrictions -- the strictest since a two-month lockdown ended in May.

• Covid-19: Curfew now in force for 20 million people living in France

Curfews are also in place in the cities of Lille, Lyon, Toulouse, Montpellier, Saint-Etienne, Aix-Marseille, Rouen and Grenoble.

The curfew will remain in place for at least four weeks.

► The photos below were shot during Paris curfew on Saturday night.

A waiter closes a bar terrace in Paris on Saturday 17 October, 2020. The monthlong curfew came into effect Friday at midnight in Paris and eight other French cities. © AP/Lewis Joly

A waiter closes a bar terrace in Paris on Saturday 17 October, 2020. The monthlong curfew came into effect Friday at midnight in Paris and eight other French cities. © AP/Lewis Joly

Empty streets in Montmartre during the late-night curfew imposed in Paris from 9pm to 6am starting on 17 October, 2020. © Reuters/Charles Platiau

Empty streets around the Moulin Rouge cabaret during the late-night curfew in Paris, 17 October, 2020. © Reuters/Charles Platiau

People will need a signed certificate or an electronic version downloaded to a phone for activities allowed during the curfew, such as walking their dog. © Reuters/Charles Platiau

Place de la Madeleine in Paris on 17 October, 2020. © AP/Lewis Joly