Sharjah24 – Reuters: France's most emblematic Christmas fair opened in Strasbourg on Friday (November 26), after being cancelled last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

This year, hand sanitisers are side by side with hot chocolate.

American and German visitors also visited the fair, which sold traditional Christmas decorations, candles, and other holiday items.

In some German states, such as the eastern state of Brandenburg which surrounds the German capital Berlin, Christmas markets across the state got cancelled and those which had opened before the cancellation announcement, such as in Potsdam, had to close from Wednesday (November 24).

COVID-19 infections are increasing in France, with 23,631 new infections reported on average each day.

A new coronavirus detected in South Africa also prompted France to suspend all flights from southern Africa for 48 hours.