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French President Emmanuel Macron is pictured at a televised address to the nation in Paris, France, March 16, 2020. French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday widened steps already taken to fight "a sanitary war" against the COVID-19 pandemic, ordering border closures, air traffic suspension, tougher restriction on movements and also penalties for offenders. (Xinhua/Gao Jing)
French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday widened steps already taken to fight "a sanitary war" against the COVID-19 pandemic, ordering border closures, air traffic suspension, tougher restriction on movements and also penalties for offenders.
In a televised address to the nation, the second in less than a week, Macron said "our movement will be strongly reduced. Outdoor gatherings will no longer be allowed. Meeting friends will no longer be possible. It is a question of limiting contacts..."
Starting from Tuesday noon and for at least two weeks, people across French cities can only move out for reasons of work, health needs or shopping of necessities.
"All breaches of these rules will be penalized," the president said.
"France is going through a difficult time. No one can predict precisely the duration... It will be necessary, based on the scientists' insights and the experiences on the ground... to adapt," he said.
French government on Saturday announced the closure of all cinemas, theatres, cafes, bars and restaurants, toughened curbs on public gatherings and urged people to stay at home.
But pictures and videos on social media showed the French enjoyed a warm spring Sunday in parks, ignoring strongly recommended instructions on social distancing and triggering medical alarm about a high risk of faster contagion.
Among the other measures to stem the virus circulation, Macron decided, in coordination with his European partners, to shut down the entry into Schengen zone from Tuesday noon and impose 30-day air traffic suspension to and from countries outside the EU.
The nation is at a sanitary war which requires "general mobilization", said the head of state, while calling off the second round of municipal election previously scheduled on March 22 and putting on hold the government's reform agenda.
The army and military hospitals will be mobilized to help medical staff in hard-hit eastern Alsace region. Additional protective masks would be distributed in the 25 worst-affected departments.
Working hard to limit the coronavirus economic fallout, the president pledged "no company, whatever its size, will be exposed to the risk of bankruptcy. No French will be left without (financial) resource."
With the aim, an "exceptional system" would allow struggling domestic companies to benefit from state loans guarantees worth 300 billion euros (335.29 billion U.S. dollars) and to suspend payments of some social charges and taxes.
The fresh batch of measures, which include unprecedented restrictions, came amid rapid spread of flu-like illness which claimed 148 deaths as of Monday, a rise of 21 from a day earlier, France's Public Health Authority said. The number of positive cases had risen to 6,633, up from 5,423 on Sunday.
