France's State Council, the country's highest court, has ordered the government to review a law limiting the number of people in churches during religious services to 30, Reuters reported.

The Council said in a statement that the measure was not proportionate to coronavirus infection risks. Last week, the government announced that a nationwide lockdown in place since Oct. 30 would be unwound in phases.

Shops selling non-essential goods were allowed to reopen from November 28 and indoor religious services were allowed to resume, but the number of worshippers was capped at 30 people, regardless of the size of the place of worship.

Catholic organisations have challenged the limit, arguing that churches and cathedrals are much more spacious than retail outlets, where the limit is one person per eight square metres.

“The claimants are right in saying that the measure is disproportionate in light of protecting the public's health [...] thus it is a serious and illegal infringement on the freedom of worship,” the council said.