France is set to shut most of its shops, restaurants and entertainment facilities from midnight on Saturday in a bid to contain the spread of coronavirus.
In an attempt to tackle the Covid-19 outbreak, Prime Minister Edouard Philippe confirmed that the following measures would be taken.
READ MORE: Coronavirus: Italy reports 21,000 cases as Covid-19 infection rises by 20% in one day
At a news conference, the latest figures released showed that the death toll in France had spiked to 91.
According to figures released by the health ministry, the number of cases in the country have doubled in the past 72 hours to 4,500. The number of deaths rose to 91.
Philippe said the government had been left with no choice but to take the decision because too many people were still out in the streets and not sufficiently following advice to tackle the spread of Coronavirus.
Seront notamment fermés les restaurants, cafés, cinémas, discothèques et commerces. Resteront en revanche ouverts les magasins et marchés alimentaires, les pharmacies, les stations essence, les banques, les bureaux de tabac et de presse. #COVIDー19 https://t.co/6tVktHy7JK
— Edouard Philippe (@EPhilippePM) March 14, 2020
At a press conference, he said: “I have decided to close all non-indispensable locations,” he said, adding that exceptions to the shop ban would include food stores, pharmacies and petrol stations.
READ MORE: Coronavirus: Spain to close borders as Covid-19 cases rise by 1,500 in a day
“We must absolutely limit our movements.”
Lithuania, Denmark, Poland and the Czech Republic in closing their borders, despite all being part of the European passport-free Schengen area.
Spain is introducing a state of emergency and Italy is tightening its lockdown, while Denmark and Poland have also closed their borders.
The number of confirmed cases of Covid-19 has risen to above 150,000.
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