While 73 cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in France, gatherings of more than 5,000 people in a closed environment, as well as certain outdoor events, will be canceled, announced the Minister of Health this Saturday, February 29. Thus, the Paris half-marathon which was to be held on Sunday March 1, will not take place.
President Emmanuel Macron chaired a Defense Council this Saturday, February 29, followed by a Council of Ministers to take stock of the coronavirus epidemic. At the end of these meetings, the Minister of Health Olivier Véran announced 16 new cases in France, i.e. 73 since the end of January. Stage 2 is triggered and gatherings of more than 5,000 people indoors are now prohibited. Update on new measures and recommendations.
On a national scale, all gatherings of more than 5,000 people in a closed environment, as well as certain outdoor events, will be canceled. Thus, the Paris half-marathon, scheduled for Sunday 1er March, will not take place. Tomorrow, the Agricultural Show will not open its doors for its last day. The objective being “that the virus spreads as little as possible, as little widely as possible”, explained Olivier Véran. For the time being, however, there is no reason to cancel the municipal elections of March 15 and 22, he said.
In Oise and in the town of La Balme-de-Sillingy, in Haute-Savoie, the two main centers of spread of the virus in France, all collective gatherings, such as masses for example, are prohibited until further notice. order. In the five municipalities of the Oise particularly affected, Creil, Crépy-en-Valois, Vaumoise, Lamorlaye, Lagny-le-Sec, as well as in La Balme, “we recommend that the inhabitants limit their movements”, indicated Olivier Veran.
Avoid kisses and handshakes
“They can move to feed themselves, to do their shopping”, but they must avoid “unnecessary travel” and must “if possible use telework“. In the five municipalities of Oise, “the schools which have cases and which therefore present a higher risk will not reopen on Monday”.
At present, 73 people have been declared positive for the coronavirus in France, including 16 new ones since Friday 28, also declared the Minister of Health, who “recommends from now on, and for a period which remains to be determined, to avoid handshakes. The same for the kiss. “Wash your hands, sneeze into your elbow, use single-use tissues. The mask is useless if you are not sick, if you have not been (in) close contact with sick people and wearing of the mask was not recommended to you”, recommended Olivier Véran.
The government is also preparing to send instructions to pharmacies so that they do not issue a mask, except with a doctor’s prescription. “In an epidemic situation, protecting yourself is also protecting others and it is the small gestures that make a big protection”, concluded the minister.
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