A notice of the closure of the Eiffel Tower, as part of measures to contain the spread of COVID-19, is seen in Paris, France, on March 14, 2020.(Photo by Jack Chan/Xinhua)
"We are at war," said President Emmanuel Macron, repeating the phrase several times in his televised address to the nation.
PARIS, March 16 (Xinhua) -- France is at war against coronavirus, and citizens should stay home and their movement will be greatly reduced starting from Tuesday noon for at least 15 days, President Emmanuel Macron announced on Monday evening.
"We are at war," said Macron, repeating the phrase several times in his televised address to the nation. People must respect confinement rules or they will be punished, he warned.
Pedestrians wearing protective masks walk in front of a closed store in Paris, France, March 15, 2020.(Photo by Aurelien Morissard/Xinhua)
To help people live through the hard time, "all rent, water, gas and electricity bills will be suspended," said Macron.
To help the health system to face the crisis, "taxis and hotels are mobilized and the State will pay," he added.
France's second round of municipal elections, previously scheduled for March 22, will be postponed. All reforms, starting from the controversial pension reform that has brought hundreds of thousands of French into demonstrations, will be suspended, said the French president.
People queue to check out in a supermarket in Lille, France on March 16, 2020.(Photo provided by Sebastien Courdji/Xinhua)
France has confirmed 6,633 coronavirus infection cases and 148 deaths, the Health Ministry announced on Monday evening.
Theses figures represent 1,210 new cases of infection and 21 additional deaths in one day. Ile-de-France, where Paris is situated, is now the most affected region, with 1,762 infections, according to the latest detailed assessment.
A man stands in front of the closed Louvre Museum in Paris, France, on March 14, 2020.(Photo by Jack Chan/Xinhua)
These data "underestimate the real number" due to the difficulty of identification and biological confirmation of all COVID-19 cases and the fact that only part of the sick is now tested, said the ministry.■
