Spine-chilling images showcase how the Covid curfew is reshaping Paris

Just weeks ago, Paris' cafés, bars, and restaurants were alive with activity late into the night, neon lights shining brightly, and masked patrons spilling out onto flower-adorned terraces, savoring their newfound freedom after a tough spring lockdown.

The vibrant street culture Paris is known for had returned, making it feel as though the city had reclaimed its former energy.

Now, these very same streets are once again empty, as a stringent new curfew kicks in to curb the rapid rise of coronavirus cases in France, reflecting a wider surge across Europe.

All hospitality venues are now required to close, and residents must remain indoors between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. in Paris. Other cities in France, including Aix-en-Provence, Grenoble, Marseille, Montpellier, Toulouse, Saint Etienne, Lille, Rouen, and Lyon, are also under similar restrictions.

Photographer Kiran Ridley ventured through Paris' boulevards and alleys on October 17—the night the curfew took effect—to capture the city's transformation as it fell dark, contrasting these haunting photos with livelier scenes from September and early October.

The photos reveal the familiar Parisian energy and the warm light from cafés replaced by cold, graffiti-covered street corners. The Eiffel Tower remains lit in the background, but in the later shots, it stands alone, untouched by the usual crowds.

Dinogo also took to the streets of Paris, interviewing locals to capture their reactions to the new curfew restrictions.

“Nine p.m. has become the new midnight,” said Alexiane, a 22-year-old French student. She questioned whether the crowds of restaurant-goers rushing to the Metro at curfew were any better than if they traveled home at midnight.

She also believes that the reduced hours for evening socializing are “stripping away the little joys we had left as young people.”

Despite this, the student remains hopeful that the new measures will help lower Covid cases.

“We're starting to feel a growing exhaustion from constantly having to make sacrifices,” she explained.

At Bar du Central, a Parisian bistro, 23-year-old Mathilde, whose family owns the restaurant, spoke to Dinogo while washing glasses and getting ready for the day ahead.

Mathilde explained that the curfew is having economic consequences for businesses.

“We’re losing revenue in the evenings,” she explained.

Mathilde added that relying on lunchtime customers is challenging, especially with many Parisians working from home or having left the city.

And making sure evening diners finish and leave before 9 p.m. is a tough task.

“It ruins the whole dining experience, but we have to adjust,” she said.

Tourism in France has already taken a hit due to travel restrictions and quarantine measures. Mathilde believes the curfew will further hurt the city’s tourism industry.

“Tourists are avoiding Paris because of the curfew,” she said.

Other Parisians who spoke to Dinogo said they supported the new restrictions as a means to reduce cases—and that they were enjoying the added benefit of reduced noise pollution.

“The curfew isn’t an issue for me,” said Mylene, talking to Dinogo while standing outside a bakery in the rain. “It’s crucial to stay cautious and prioritize health over the economy. My street has gotten much quieter since the curfew, and it’s actually quite pleasant.”

Lisa, a clothing store manager, closes her shop at 7 p.m. Under the new rules, she has only a few hours between finishing work and the curfew starting.

While she misses the chance to relax in the evenings, Lisa generally supports the new restrictions.

“It gives me a chance to rest and drink less. If the curfew helps reduce cases, then I fully support it,” she said.

“It’s fine, we can wait a couple of months and party later,” she added.

This story has been updated to correct the timing of one of the photos.