France goes on lockdown with all non-essential public locations to close TONIGHT

France goes on lockdown with all non-essential public locations to close TONIGHT as coronavirus death toll in the country soars to 91 with French Prime Minister calling it the ‘biggest health crisis in a century’

  • Restaurants, some shops, cinemas and cafés will shut for the foreseeable future
  • French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe also called on people to reduce travel 
  • Exceptions on France’s ban include supermarkets, pharmacies and gas stations 
  • Coronavirus symptoms: what are they and should you see a doctor?

France has gone on lockdown with all non-essential public locations to close tonight as the coronavirus death toll in the country soars to 91.

Restaurants, shops, cinemas and cafés will shut for the foreseeable future with French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe calling the virus the ‘biggest health crisis in a century’. 

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

Restaurants, some shops, cinemas and cafés will shut for the foreseeable future with French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe (pictured) calling it the ‘biggest health crisis in a century’

Mr Philippe also called on French people to reduce their travel, especially between towns. Pictured: a woman in a mask near the Eiffel Tower in Paris today

Mr Philippe also called on French people to reduce their travel, especially between towns. Pictured: a woman in a mask near the Eiffel Tower in Paris today

France reported a sharp rise in cases on Saturday, from 3,661 to 4,499. It also recorded 12 more deaths, bringing the toll to 91. 

Public transport will remain open but Mr Philippe encouraged his citizens to limit their use.

Exceptions on France’s ban include supermarkets, pharmacies and petrol stations. 

Mr Philippe added that his citizens will have to make tough sacrifices in the coming months to help stop the spread of the killer virus.

However, he said local elections on Sunday would go ahead.

Jerome Salomon, the head of the French public health authority, said there had been a rapid increase in serious cases, including 300 people in intensive care, half of whom were below 60 years of age.

France reported a sharp rise in cases on Saturday, from 3,661 to 4,499. It recorded 12 more deaths, bringing the toll to 91

France reported a sharp rise in cases on Saturday, from 3,661 to 4,499. It recorded 12 more deaths, bringing the toll to 91

‘I am conscious of the efforts and sacrifices that we are asking, but I have faith that the French people will have the capacity to overcome this serious moment,’ Philippe said.

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 applying measures that were recently announced. 

That, he said, was helping accelerate the spread of the virus.

‘I have decided to close all non-indispensable locations. We must absolutely limit our movements,’ he said.

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk