He said roadblocks would be set up on major highways and axes and extra police, gendarmes or soldiers dispatched to train stations and airports to verify the documents of anyone stopped out and about.

Local officials in areas where city dwellers have second homes or popular tourist spots have also been told to check those travelling.

The two-week Easter holidays begin on Friday evening and are staggered over four weeks and three different zones.

During the lockdown, the French are required to carry a signed, dated and timed, attestation “on oath” giving the reason for leaving home. The document has a legal status.

Castaner told those thinking of ignoring the confinement rules: “Absolutely do not go on holiday during the lockdown period … people must rest confined.

“Any abuse will be punished. I know the lockdown is a constraint for families, but we must hold out,” the minister told LCI radio.

Trains are still running across the country, but fewer than one in 10 services have been maintained.

“When people are stopped and checked it’s not to fine them, it’s to guarantee and protect the French from the coronavirus and stop its spread. The objective is that people stay home,” Castaner added.

“During the confinement, we do not go on holiday.”

Since the lockdown began at noon on Tuesday 17 March, police and security forces have carried out 5.8m checks on people’s papers, Castaner said. They have issued 359,000 fines, now ranging from €135 for a first offence up to €1,500 for a repeat. Those found to have ignored the regulations four times can be fined up to €3,750 and sent to jail for up to six months.

“I know how difficult it is to be confined for all French but Covid-19 doesn’t choose its targets depending on their revenue, their job, the holidays ... it hits everyone,” Castaner said.

“If people start leaving for the weekend or the holidays, the whole strategy of the lockdown fails.”