'We are at war': France imposes lockdown to combat virus

By Michel Rose and Richard Lough

 

French President Emmanuel Macron is seen addresses the nation about the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, on a mobile screen in this illustration picture taken March 16, 2020. REUTERS/Eric Gaillard/Illustration

 

PARIS (Reuters) - French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday ordered stringent restrictions on people's movement to slow the spread of the coronavirus, and said the army would be drafted in to help move the sick to hospitals.

 

France had already shut down restaurants and bars, closed schools and put ski resorts off limits, but Macron said measures unprecedented in peacetime were needed as the number of infected people doubled every three days and deaths spiralled higher.

 

In a sombre address to the nation, the president said that from Tuesday midday (1100 GMT) people should stay at home unless it was to buy groceries, travel to work, exercise or for medical care.

 

Anyone flouting the restrictions, in place for at least the next two weeks, would be punished.

 

"I know what I am asking of you is unprecedented but circumstances demand it," Macron said.

 

"We're not up against another army or another nation. But the enemy is right there: invisible, elusive, but it is making progress."

 

He said tougher action was needed after too many people ignored earlier warnings and mingled in parks and on street corners over the weekend, risking their own health and the wellbeing of others.

 

In France the coronavirus has killed 148 people and infected more than 6,600.

 

ARMY MOBILISED

Under the new measures, soldiers would help transport the sick to hospitals with spare capacity and a military hospital with 30 intensive care beds would be set up in the eastern region of Alsace, where one of the largest infection clusters has broken out.

 

Macron said he was postponing the second round of local elections on Sunday. Because the government's sole focus needed to be fighting the pandemic, he said he was suspending his reform agenda, starting with his overhaul of the pension system.

 

The government would, when necessary, legislate by decree to fight the coronavirus, he said.

 

Coronavirus infections and fatalities in France and Spain have been surging at a pace just days behind that of Italy, the epicentre of the outbreak in Europe where hospitals in the worst-hit northern regions are stretched to breaking point.

 

Seeking to offer further reassurance to businesses, Macron said the government would guarantee 300 billion euros worth of loans. The loan guarantee plan would be submitted to parliament in coming weeks and would be retroactive, a finance ministry source said.

 

Rent and utility bills owed by small companies would also be suspended to help them weather the economic storm, he added.

 

"No French company, whatever its size, will be exposed to the risk of collapse," Macron said.

 

(Reporting by Michel Rose and Benoit Van Overstraten; Writing by Richard Lough; Editing by Christian Lowe)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-03-17

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Well that's France <deleted> - look what happened the last time they went to war ????

2 hours ago, canopus1969 said:

Well that's France <deleted> - look what happened the last time they went to war ????

they won with the help from many other citizens around the world that died for nothing, or at least a promise to be free of their colonizers in the next years and we see what happened to Africa, parts of Asia ... all prosper, free and rich after the liberation, right ?

Some offensive posts and replies have been removed. 

5 hours ago, justin case said:

they won with the help from many other citizens around the world that died for nothing, or at least a promise to be free of their colonizers in the next years and we see what happened to Africa, parts of Asia ... all prosper, free and rich after the liberation, right ?

Oh yeah, Hong Kong did real bad eh ?  Singapore, Malaysia, Burma till the Army took over....... Shame about all the French former colonies being a complete disaster........  And hey, who's they ?  Half of them surrendered after six weeks and the other half joined in with the Jerries......  If you're going to spout it, get it right.....

5 hours ago, justin case said:

they won with the help from many other citizens around the world that died for nothing, or at least a promise to be free of their colonizers in the next years and we see what happened to Africa, parts of Asia ... all prosper, free and rich after the liberation, right ?

You really need to learn History! Some facts: France sided with Hitler and were fighting against Britain in Africa causing British resources to be tied up defeating them. Out of the 150k saved off of the beaches at Dunkirk only 10k joined to fight for their country and on DDay only about 30 French soldiers were involved and let us never ever forget the French Navy were about to hand over their ships to Hitler so needed to be sunk and that Degaul threats to join Hitler if he did not get what he wanted for himself and not for France. Oh and Paten thinking Hitler was a nice guy. The history that is still glossed over to this day. 

Edited March 17, 20206 yr by Scot123
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I am sure some of you are old enough to remember Napoleon also, but how about Frances respond to the virus?

8 minutes ago, Scot123 said:

You really need to learn History! Some facts: France sided with Hitler and were fighting against Britain in Africa causing British resources to be tied up defeating them. Out of the 150k saved off of the beaches at Dunkirk only 10k joined to fight for their country and on DDay only about 30 French soldiers were involved and let us never ever forget the French Navy were about to hand over their ships to Hitler so needed to be sunk and that Degaul threats to join Hitler if he did not get what he wanted for himself and not for France. Oh and Paten thinking Hitler was a nice guy. The history that is still glossed over to this day. 

Yeah all true....... The best thing is though, when i'm feeling down i like to watch " Churchills darkest decision" on Youtube....... Having worked for many French companies in the past and suffered under their stupidity it's nice to watch the French Navy get a good shelling, the only one they ever really got, courtesy of the British......... They even scuttled all the remaining ships rather than hand them over to the allies......   Low life........  Mind you, good luck with Macron though, he reminds me of another short Ars%$# little dictator who eventually got his backside kicked inside out.........  Aaagh, gives me the creeps even talking about the slimy Gits......

14 hours ago, canopus1969 said:

Well that's France <deleted> - look what happened the last time they went to war ????

 

Yes but this time they have le petit generale in command. He's probably ordering new curtains and a new dinner service for his palace as we speak!