French Prime Minister orders the closure of non-essential public locations in response to COVID-19 outbreak

French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe has ordered the closure of all non-essential public locations from midnight in response to the coronavirus outbreak.

The measure applies to restaurants, cafes, cinemas and discos, as well as non-essential businesses.

Philippe also called on French people to reduce their travel, especially between towns.

France reported a sharp rise in cases from 3,661 to 4,499.

It recorded 12 more deaths, bringing the toll to 79.

BBC News reports Spain is poised to declare a 15-day national lockdown to battle the virus following similar measures by Italy earlier this week.

View this post on Instagram

As coronavirus continues to spread around the world, face masks are in high demand as people look for ways to protect themselves. But do they really protect most people from contracting the virus? Dr Shunmay Yeung from London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine explains. #Coronavirus #Covid19 #BBCNews

A post shared by BBC News (@bbcnews) on Mar 14, 2020 at 5:50am PDT

The United States will also extend its European coronavirus travel ban to include the UK and Republic of Ireland.

Philippe said the closure did not apply to essential businesses which he listed as food shops, chemists, banks, tobacco shops and petrol stations..

[Source:BBC]