A nationwide lockdown was imposed in France on March 16, and since then the country is facing intense surges in the need for hospital ICU beds; special trains are even used to evacuate coronavirus patients from overwhelmed hospitals to other less-affected regions to ease congestion in the wards.

As healthcare workers on the front lines are in urgent need of FFP2 health masks, people across the country show their gratitude for doctors and nurses fighting the outbreak by gathering everyday at 8 p.m from their balconies to applause, make noise or play some music.

The Eiffel Tower also celebrates them and lights up as a sign of solidarity with heathcare workers and everyone on the front lines of the battle against COVID-19. We can read on the official website:

At 8 p.m., the Eiffel Tower sparkles for an extra 10 minutes, and the message “Merci” (Thank you) is displayed on the Eiffel Tower (Trocadéro side) as a tribute to the healthcare workers, policemen, gendarmes, firefighters, civil servants, first-aid workers, paramedics, soldiers, cashiers, garbage collectors, shopkeepers, delivery employees, volunteers, caregivers, associations and Parisians, who are mobilized against Covid-19.

Here is a video! Merci au personnel soignant!