The Coronavirus frontline services rendered by hundreds of immigrants in France have been recognised with fast-track citizenship.
According to sources, the concerned persons helped with efforts against Covid-19 and were invited and told by the interior ministry to apply for accelerated naturalisation.
At the moment, more than 700 have already been granted citizenship or are in the final stages of receiving it.
Some of them include healthcare professionals, cleaners and shop workers.
Meanwhile, it has been observed that front-line workers around the world have been exposed to Covid-19 at a high rate with many dying from the disease including doctors and nurses.
As the deadly coronavirus spread, entering the second wave, France is in the top 10 countries worst hit by coronavirus infections, with more than 2.5 million confirmed cases and close to 62,000 deaths.
So far on the citizenship process, a total of 2,890 people have applied even though the expedited citizenship initiative was first announced in September.
Others are seventy-four people who have already been granted a French passport and another 693 are in the final stages.
In reaction to the development, the office of Marlene Schiappa, junior minister for citizenship, on Tuesday said, “Health professionals, cleaning ladies, childcare workers, checkout staff: They all proved their commitment to the nation, and it is now the turn of the republic to take a step towards them.”
