france24--2020-03-14--Doors slam shut across borderless Europe as coronavirus spreads

Denmark has closed its borders to foreigners in an attempt to slow the progress of the coronavirus pandemic .
Europe ’ s cherished Schengen network of open internal borders is on the brink of collapse as more and more countries shut their doors in a frantic effort to stave off the coronavirus pandemic , even as experts warn such tactics will delay its spread – but not halt it .
At his daily briefing on the coronavirus emergency on Friday , Luca Zaia , the governor of Italy ’ s Veneto region , one of Europe ’ s worst-hit , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ zone was “ disappearing as we speak ” .
“ Schengen no longer exists , it will be remembered only in the history books , ” Zaia said , pointing to the long lines of traffic stuck at Italy ’ s northeastern border , where Austrian officials have reintroduced stringent controls .
With Italy reporting the most virus cases and deaths anywhere in the world except China , the pandemic is increasingly wearing on the EU 's cherished core principle , which envisions a border-free Europe where citizens can freely live , work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country to impose drastic curbs on travel from Italy on Wednesday , urgently reinstalling border checkpoints in the exact spots where they had been dismantled back in 1997 when the country joined the Schengen Area .
All travellers seeking to cross the Brennero border from Italy are now required to present health certificates proving they have not contracted the COVID-19 virus – a measure that has slowed traffic on the busy Alpine crossing to a near standstill .
Since then , Slovenia and Switzerland , which also border Italy , have imposed similar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ – including Poland , Slovakia , the Czech Republic and Cyprus – have announced restrictions that go far beyond travellers from Italy .
`` Most of the cases that have been propagating the coronavirus epidemic in Poland are imported cases , '' Poland ’ s Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki told reporters as he announced the closure of his country ’ s borders with all its neighbours starting at midnight on Saturday .
`` We do n't want the coronavirus to head our way in droves . ''
The successive border closures came as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ announced on Friday that Europe had become the pandemic 's current “ epicenter ” after reporting more cases and deaths than the rest of world combined , excluding China .
More than 22,000 cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed across Europe , and nearly 1,500 people with the virus have died on the continent – most of them in Italy .
While the virus is spreading across the continent , the rushed actions taken by individual states are highlighting the lack of a coordinated approach to fighting the coronavirus – not least among @ @ @ @ @ @ @ states .
The European Commission , the EU 's executive body , has recommended coordinated health screenings at the borders as a way to address infections , rather than border closures .
“ We ’ ve seen travel bans and controls being put in place in a number of member states , ” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told reporters on Friday .
“ Certain controls may be justified , but general travel bans are not seen as being the most effective by the World Health Organization .
Moreover , they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
They disrupt people ’ s lives and business across the borders.
” To avoid a patchwork of national policies that are ineffective and cause economic harm , “ any measure that is taken must be proportionate '' and coordinated with Brussels , she said , suggesting that preliminary checks for signs of infection could be done at the Schengen Area ’ s borders , both internal and external .
“ Member states , especially neighbouring ones , need to work very closely together , '' Von der Leyen said .
`` In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the only way , we can make sure that our citizens receive the healthcare that they need immediately , wherever they are.
” But Von der Leyen ’ s commission , along with other EU institutions , has a very limited role to play in combating the COVID-19 pandemic .
It polices the Schengen Area 's rules , but individual countries are responsible for their own health and public safety policies .
In a sign of the EU ’ s limited power , the Danish government also announced late Friday that it was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , sea and air – to travellers .
Denmark consulted with neighbouring countries prior to the announcement but not with EU officials .
`` We are in uncharted territory , '' Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen told a news conference as he announced the travel ban .
`` I know that the overall list of measures is very extreme and will be seen as very extreme , but I am convinced that it 's worth it . ''
In many ways , the coronavirus pandemic has exacerbated divisions that first came to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ central European states closed their borders to migrants and thwarted EU efforts to implement migrant quotas across the bloc .
Hungary ’ s Prime Minister Viktor Orban , whose country has also banned travel from Italy , has made an explicit link between the two crises .
`` We are fighting a two-front war : one front is called migration , and the other one belongs to the coronavirus – there is a logical connection between the two , as both spread with movement , '' Orban told Hungarian media on Friday .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the disease , and that it is spreading among foreigners , '' he added , in remarks that mirrored US President Donald Trump ’ s description of the coronavirus as a “ foreign disease ” .
Trump ’ s decision on Wednesday to slap a 30-day travel ban on people coming from the Schengen Area has stunned and angered EU officials , who were not consulted prior to the move .
“ Instead of tending to the problems of his country , and to a virus that knows no borders , he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people that have a different citizenship than American , ” said German Finance Minister Olaf Scholz .
Though it has stepped up monitoring travellers for signs of infection , Germany has so far refused to close its borders .
Spain and Italy have also opted to keep borders open , even as they place their own populations under lockdown .
“ This virus cares not for borders , be they internal or external , ” said Spain ’ s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Friday as he said his country planned to declare @ @ @ @ @ @ @ President Emmanuel Macron has also been critical of EU members that have unilaterally closed their borders , calling such moves counter-productive and pleading instead for coordination across the bloc .
He has stressed the importance of scientific evidence , rather than ideology or political expediency , in guiding the world ’ s response to the coronavirus outbreak .
But just as governments are divided over how to tackle the novel virus , so is the scientific community .
In justifying Trump ’ s travel ban , Dr. Anthony Fauci , the top official @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Institute of Health , noted that 70 percent of new infections could be traced to Europe .
“ It was pretty compelling that we needed to turn off the source from that region , ” he told a congressional panel on Thursday .
Internal blockades have proved their effectiveness in China , where the virus first originated , said Sterghios Moschos , a virologist at Northumbria University in the UK .
Appearing on the FRANCE 24 Debate show , Moschos noted that the blockade of Hubei province “ stopped in its tracks the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ parts of the country .
Other medical experts are doubtful that the Chinese model would prove useful now that the disease has spread across the globe and is being passed through so-called community transmission – among people who have n't travelled overseas .
Dr. Bruce Aylward , who led a World Health Organization team in China as the COVID-19 disease was surging last month , said countries might gain in the short term by limiting travel , but that overall “ it does n't help to restrict movement '' .
Margaret Harris , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ involved in the virus response , echoed the concerns about the false comfort of closing borders as a delaying tactic .
“ You divert a lot of resources when you are focused on closing borders , rather than focusing on protecting your health workers , preparing your health systems and enhancing your disease surveillance , ” she told The Intercept .
Even Britain , which was initially exempt from Trump 's travel ban , has expressed scepticism about its effectiveness .
`` With regard to flight bans , we are always guided by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ here , '' Finance Minister Rishi Sunak told BBC radio on Friday .
He added : `` The advice we are getting is that there is n't evidence that interventions like closing borders or travel bans are going to have a material effect on the spread of the infection . ''

Europe’s cherished Schengen network of open internal borders is on the brink of collapse as more and more countries shut their doors in a frantic effort to stave off the coronavirus pandemic, even as experts warn such tactics will delay its spread – but not halt it.
Denmark has closed its borders to foreigners in an attempt to slow the progress of the coronavirus pandemic.
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At his daily briefing on the coronavirus emergency on Friday, Luca Zaia, the governor of Italy’s Veneto region, one of Europe’s worst-hit, told reporters that Europe’s borderless zone was “disappearing as we speak”.
“Schengen no longer exists, it will be remembered only in the history books,” Zaia said, pointing to the long lines of traffic stuck at Italy’s northeastern border, where Austrian officials have reintroduced stringent controls.
With Italy reporting the most virus cases and deaths anywhere in the world except China, the pandemic is increasingly wearing on the EU's cherished core principle, which envisions a border-free Europe where citizens can freely live, work and travel.
Austria became the first country to impose drastic curbs on travel from Italy on Wednesday, urgently reinstalling border checkpoints in the exact spots where they had been dismantled back in 1997 when the country joined the Schengen Area.
All travellers seeking to cross the Brennero border from Italy are now required to present health certificates proving they have not contracted the COVID-19 virus – a measure that has slowed traffic on the busy Alpine crossing to a near standstill.
Since then, Slovenia and Switzerland, which also border Italy, have imposed similar curbs. But several other EU nations – including Poland, Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Cyprus – have announced restrictions that go far beyond travellers from Italy.
"Most of the cases that have been propagating the coronavirus epidemic in Poland are imported cases," Poland’s Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki told reporters as he announced the closure of his country’s borders with all its neighbours starting at midnight on Saturday.
"We don't want the coronavirus to head our way in droves."
‘Uncharted territory’
The successive border closures came as the World Health Organization (WHO) announced on Friday that Europe had become the pandemic's current “epicenter” after reporting more cases and deaths than the rest of world combined, excluding China.
More than 22,000 cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed across Europe, and nearly 1,500 people with the virus have died on the continent – most of them in Italy.
While the virus is spreading across the continent, the rushed actions taken by individual states are highlighting the lack of a coordinated approach to fighting the coronavirus – not least among the European Union’s 27 member states.
The European Commission, the EU's executive body, has recommended coordinated health screenings at the borders as a way to address infections, rather than border closures.
“We’ve seen travel bans and controls being put in place in a number of member states,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told reporters on Friday. “Certain controls may be justified, but general travel bans are not seen as being the most effective by the World Health Organization. Moreover, they have a strong social and economic impact. They disrupt people’s lives and business across the borders.”
To avoid a patchwork of national policies that are ineffective and cause economic harm, “any measure that is taken must be proportionate" and coordinated with Brussels, she said, suggesting that preliminary checks for signs of infection could be done at the Schengen Area’s borders, both internal and external.
“Member states, especially neighbouring ones, need to work very closely together," Von der Leyen said. "In this way, and it’s the only way, we can make sure that our citizens receive the healthcare that they need immediately, wherever they are.”
But Von der Leyen’s commission, along with other EU institutions, has a very limited role to play in combating the COVID-19 pandemic. It polices the Schengen Area's rules, but individual countries are responsible for their own health and public safety policies.
In a sign of the EU’s limited power, the Danish government also announced late Friday that it was closing all of its borders – land, sea and air – to travellers. Denmark consulted with neighbouring countries prior to the announcement but not with EU officials.
"We are in uncharted territory," Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen told a news conference as he announced the travel ban. "I know that the overall list of measures is very extreme and will be seen as very extreme, but I am convinced that it's worth it."
‘Foreign disease’
In many ways, the coronavirus pandemic has exacerbated divisions that first came to the fore in 2015, when eastern and central European states closed their borders to migrants and thwarted EU efforts to implement migrant quotas across the bloc.
Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban, whose country has also banned travel from Italy, has made an explicit link between the two crises.
"We are fighting a two-front war: one front is called migration, and the other one belongs to the coronavirus – there is a logical connection between the two, as both spread with movement," Orban told Hungarian media on Friday.
"Our experience is that foreigners brought in the disease, and that it is spreading among foreigners," he added, in remarks that mirrored US President Donald Trump’s description of the coronavirus as a “foreign disease”.
Trump’s decision on Wednesday to slap a 30-day travel ban on people coming from the Schengen Area has stunned and angered EU officials, who were not consulted prior to the move.
“Instead of tending to the problems of his country, and to a virus that knows no borders, he thinks that he can fight it like people that have a different citizenship than American,” said German Finance Minister Olaf Scholz.
Though it has stepped up monitoring travellers for signs of infection, Germany has so far refused to close its borders. Spain and Italy have also opted to keep borders open, even as they place their own populations under lockdown.
“This virus cares not for borders, be they internal or external,” said Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Friday as he said his country planned to declare a nationwide state of emergency.
‘Turn off the source’
French President Emmanuel Macron has also been critical of EU members that have unilaterally closed their borders, calling such moves counter-productive and pleading instead for coordination across the bloc. He has stressed the importance of scientific evidence, rather than ideology or political expediency, in guiding the world’s response to the coronavirus outbreak.
But just as governments are divided over how to tackle the novel virus, so is the scientific community.
In justifying Trump’s travel ban, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the top official on infectious diseases at the US National Institute of Health, noted that 70 percent of new infections could be traced to Europe.
“It was pretty compelling that we needed to turn off the source from that region,” he told a congressional panel on Thursday.
Internal blockades have proved their effectiveness in China, where the virus first originated, said Sterghios Moschos, a virologist at Northumbria University in the UK. Appearing on the FRANCE 24 Debate show, Moschos noted that the blockade of Hubei province “stopped in its tracks the transmission intensity”, thereby sparing other parts of the country.
Other medical experts are doubtful that the Chinese model would prove useful now that the disease has spread across the globe and is being passed through so-called community transmission – among people who haven't travelled overseas.
Dr. Bruce Aylward, who led a World Health Organization team in China as the COVID-19 disease was surging last month, said countries might gain in the short term by limiting travel, but that overall “it doesn't help to restrict movement".
Margaret Harris, a WHO spokesperson and medical doctor currently involved in the virus response, echoed the concerns about the false comfort of closing borders as a delaying tactic.
“You divert a lot of resources when you are focused on closing borders, rather than focusing on protecting your health workers, preparing your health systems and enhancing your disease surveillance,” she told The Intercept.
Even Britain, which was initially exempt from Trump's travel ban, has expressed scepticism about its effectiveness.
"With regard to flight bans, we are always guided by the science as we make our decisions here," Finance Minister Rishi Sunak told BBC radio on Friday.
He added: "The advice we are getting is that there isn't evidence that interventions like closing borders or travel bans are going to have a material effect on the spread of the infection."
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france24--2020-03-14--Spain announces lockdown after reporting 1,500 new coronavirus cases in a day

Restaurant terraces remain closed at the usually overcrowded Plaza Mayor in central Madrid after the government announce a nationwide lockdown on March 14 , 2020 .
Spain ’ s government announced Saturday that it is placing tight restrictions on movements and closing restaurants and other establishments in the nation of 46 million people as part of a two-week state of emergency to fight the sharp rise in coronavirus infections .
Spain has followed Italy ’ s path in implementing a similar lockdown after both European countries failed to contain the virus in regional hotspots .
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a nationally televised address after holding a Cabinet meeting that lasted over seven hours .
The delay was reportedly due to discrepancies in the coalition government of Sánchez ’ s Socialists and the anti-austerity United We Can .
“ From now we enter into a new phase , ” Sánchez said .
“ We won ’ t hesitate in doing what we need must to beat the virus .
We are putting health first.
” Sánchez added that all police forces , including those run by local authorities , will be put under @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the armed forces could be deployed it necessary .
According to the government decree , people will only be allowed to leave their homes to buy food and medicine , commute to work , go to medical centers and banks , or take trips related to the care for the young and the elderly .
Those limitations are effective immediately .
Effective immediately , Spain is also closing all restaurants , bars , hotels , schools and universities nationwide , and other non-essential retail outlets , a move some of the hardest-hit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ authorities said Saturday that coronavirus infections have reached 5,753 people , half of them in Madrid , since the first case was detected in Spain in late January .
That represents a national increase of over 1,500 in 24 hours .
Sánchez acknowledged on Friday that the number of infections could reach 10,000 in the coming days .
Italy extended the strict restriction on movements from the north to the entire country on March 9 when it registered over 9,000 infections .
It then went further on March 11 and closed all retail @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Spain ’ s central government had been criticized by some regional authorities , who run the nation ’ s decentralized public health system , for taking too long to shut down the entire country .
The decision by Sánchez comes after some regions of Spain with viral clusters had taken steps to close restaurants and other non-essential establishments .
The regional leaders of Madrid and northeast Catalonia had criticized Sánchez for taking too long to tighten the screws on transport and restrict the circulation of people .
Residents in Madrid and Barcelona awoke @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other non-essential commercial outlets as ordered by regional authorities the day before .
The normally bustling streets of Spain ’ s two biggest cities were noticeably quieter as the message sinks in that social distancing is the only way to stop the global pandemic after its eruption in China .
The strain on Madrid ’ s medical system had led local authorities to devise a plan to convert hotels into temporary wards to care for less serious patients and clear space in the overburdened critical care areas .
Spooked shoppers packed some supermarkets @ @ @ @ @ @ @ calm from authorities and supermarket owners .
Business owners fear that the closures will be crippling , especially in Spain ’ s huge tourism industry , but they are resigned to comply .
Even though the airports remained open , some flights bound for Spain turned around as word spread of the lockdown .
“ We had to close and remain shut for 15 days , ” restaurant owner Rachel Paparardo said in Barcelona , Catalonia ’ s largest city .
“ But this is nothing , it is just so more people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can recover from this '' .
In the capital , however , the town hall was forced to close parks after many people continued their Saturday morning jogs and other outdoor pastimes .
Police in the capital resorted to airborne drones with speakers to urge people to go home in some parks , according to Spanish news agency EFE .
“ I live in the city centre and I like to see it empty , ” said Madrid resident Carmen Melon .
“ I like to see that I think people are being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stay at home are doing it .
Today I have to work , just one hour , but later I will stay home too.
” Sports and television personalities have joined authorities and public health care workers in their pleas for people to remain indoors in order to reduce the spiking contagion curve .
“ It is the moment to act responsibility and to stay home , ” Barcelona star Lionel Messi wrote on Instagram Saturday .
A state of emergency also allows the central government to legally confiscate goods and take over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including private hospitals to boost the robust public system .
It ’ s only the second time that the government has evoked it since the return of democracy in the late 1970s .
The other was declared during a 2010 air traffic controllers ’ strike .

Spain’s government announced Saturday that it is placing tight restrictions on movements and closing restaurants and other establishments in the nation of 46 million people as part of a two-week state of emergency to fight the sharp rise in coronavirus infections.
Restaurant terraces remain closed at the usually overcrowded Plaza Mayor in central Madrid after the government announce a nationwide lockdown on March 14, 2020.
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Spain is following Italy’s path in implementing a similar lockdown after both European countries failed to contain the virus in regional hotspots.
“From now we enter into a new phase,” Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez told the nation in a nationally televised address after his Cabinet met for over seven hours.
“We won’t hesitate in doing what we must to beat the virus. We are putting health first.”
Shortly after he spoke, the government revealed that the virus had reached Sánchez’s own home, saying his wife, Begoña Gómez, had tested positive for the COVID-19 virus. The government said both Gómez and the prime minister are in good health.
Two ministers of Sánchez’s Cabinet, the minister of equality and the minister of regional affairs, had already tested positive earlier this week. The other members of the government passed a screening.
Following his address, people broke into a long round of applause from balconies in Madrid and Barcelona, with some firing off fireworks, in response to a call on social media for a show of support for the country’s doctors and nurses. Others joined in, relieved that the government was taking more action.
🇪🇸 #Spain has one of the best health systems in the world and a large spirit of solidarity.
👏🏻 Today we honour our medical health professionals fighting in the front line against #COVID19. pic.twitter.com/CEN4zGlEEg — Spain MFA (@SpainMFA) March 14, 2020
Sánchez added that all police forces, including those run by local authorities, will be put under the orders of the Interior Minister and that the armed forces are on stand-by.
“At any moment, when it is necessary, we can count on the deployment of the armed forces. The army is ready,” Sánchez said.
According to the government decree, people will only be allowed to leave their homes to buy food and medicine, commute to work, go to medical centers and banks, or take trips related to the care for the elderly, the young, and dependents. Those limitations are effective immediately.
Spain is also closing all restaurants, bars, hotels, schools and universities nationwide, and other non-essential retail outlets, a move some of its hardest-hit communities have already carried out.
The state of emergency also gives the government the power to take control of private hospitals to reinforce its large public health service that is being pushed to the brink in the capital and other areas. The strain on Madrid’s medical system had led local authorities to devise a plan to convert hotels into temporary wards to care for less serious patients and clear space in the overburdened critical care areas.
📽 | All of Spain bursts into a round of applause for doctors, nurses, and healthcare workers working during the covid-19 coronavirus pandemic #AplausoSanitario
Footage of Gràcia neighborhood, in Barcelona pic.twitter.com/WOTH83rzmv — Catalan News (@catalannews) March 14, 2020
Health authorities said Saturday that coronavirus infections have reached 5,753 people, half of them in Madrid, since the first case was detected in Spain in late January. That represents a national increase of over 1,500 in 24 hours.
Sánchez acknowledged on Friday that the number of infections could reach 10,000 in the coming days.
“We are going to win this battle,” Sánchez said. “The important thing is that price we have to pay be as low as possible, the lives we can save, the infections we can prevent, and sick days we can avoid.”
Italy extended the strict restriction on movements from the north to the entire country on March 9 when it registered over 9,000 infections. It then went further on March 11 and closed all retail outlets except some supermarkets and pharmacies.
Spain’s central government had been criticized by some regional authorities, who run the nation’s decentralized public health system, for taking too long to shut down the entire country.
The decision by Sánchez comes after some regions of Spain with viral clusters had taken steps to close restaurants and other non-essential establishments. The regional leaders of Madrid and northeast Catalonia had criticized Sánchez for taking too long to tighten the screws on transport and restrict the circulation of people.
Residents in Madrid and Barcelona awoke Saturday to shuttered bars and restaurants and other non-essential commercial outlets as ordered by regional authorities the day before.
From the 🏡 of the 🐐
Leo #Messi: "Now is the time to be responsible and stay at home.” 💙❤ #StayAtHome pic.twitter.com/GhVjiTe4Na — FC Barcelona (from 🏠) (@FCBarcelona) March 14, 2020
The normally bustling streets of Spain’s two biggest cities were noticeably quieter as the message sinks in that social distancing is the only way to stop the global pandemic after its eruption in China.
Spooked shoppers packed some supermarkets early in the morning despite calls for calm from authorities and supermarket owners.
Business owners fear that the closures will be crippling, especially in Spain’s huge tourism industry, but they are resigned to comply. Even though the airports remained open, some flights bound for Spain turned around as word spread of the lockdown.
“We had to close and remain shut for 15 days,” restaurant owner Rachel Paparardo said in Barcelona, Catalonia’s largest city. “But this is nothing, it is just so more people don’t get infected and we can recover from this.”
In the capital, however, the town hall was forced to close parks after many people continued their Saturday morning jogs and other outdoor pastimes, with municipal police resorting to airborne drones with speakers to urge people to go home.
“I live in the city center and I like to see it empty,” said Madrid resident Carmen Melon. “I like to see that I think people are being responsible and the people who have to stay at home are doing it. Today I have to work, just one hour, but later I will stay home too.”
Sports and television personalities have joined authorities and public health care workers in their pleas for people to remain indoors in order to reduce the spiking contagion curve.
“It is the moment to act responsibility and to stay home,” Barcelona star Lionel Messi wrote on Instagram Saturday.
It’s only the second time that the government has evoked it since the return of democracy in the late 1970s. The other was declared during a 2010 air traffic controllers’ strike.
(AP)
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france24--2020-03-14--Tourists stuck in Morocco after links to Europe restricted over coronavirus

Passengers wait in their cars as they were refused entry at the Tanger Med port in the northern city of Tangiers on the Strait of Gibraltar , March 13 , 2020 .
Tourists from a number of European countries were unable to leave after flights were suspended to many European countries and also to China and Algeria on Saturday .
French nationals were allowed to leave on repatriation flights , according to the French Foreign Ministry .
Tourists were stranded in Morocco on Saturday after the kingdom announced strict border restrictions in response to the coronavirus , leaving travellers stuck @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ We are lost !
” said David , an Italian tourist waiting at the closed border with the Spanish enclave of Ceuta in northern Morocco .
Morocco suspended air , sea and land links with European countries and Algeria on Friday , as well as taking measures to confine citizens to prevent the spread of coronavirus .
Flights to and from Algeria , Spain , France , Germany , the Netherlands , Belgium , Portugal and Italy were suspended “ until further notice ” , while sea links for passengers and Morocco @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a second Spanish enclave , Melilla , were closed .
But France ’ s Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian announced Saturday that Rabat had agreed to allow repatriation flights for French nationals .
The first flights back to France took off earlier the same day , he said .
The closure of the only land border between Africa and the European Union at Cueta and Melilla saw Spaniards rushing to leave on Thursday evening , as Moroccan day workers hastily returned in the opposite direction .
The land borders are busiest in summer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ flowing .
Now though a Moroccan police roadblock bars the road towards the border with Cueta .
David said he tried to go to Spain because links with Italy , a hotspot of the disease , are suspended .
After arriving in Morocco for a motorcycle tour with his partner earlier this month , the 33-year-old Italian was stuck at a service station outside Cueta .
The border at Cueta , like that at Melilla , was reopened Friday only for Spaniards .
Except for a few travellers , the normally busy border @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was deserted .
At the service station , camper vans bearing various European license plates were parked waiting .
“ We don ’ t know how long this will last , no one has told us anything , ” said Rene , a 71-year-old French man speaking before Le Drian ’ s announcement .
“ The weather is good here , there ’ s surely fewer cases of coronavirus in Morocco than in France , ” he said .
Moroccan authorities have reported 17 cases of COVID-19 , including one death .
France @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 210 COVID-19 deaths .
On the Spanish side at Cueta , stuck Moroccans were wondering why their country would not let them back in .
“ If I need to get a hotel , who will pay ?
” asked a man hoping to return home .
At Tangiers port some 30 kilometres to the west , containers and trucks were unloaded as usual but the passenger terminal was closed .
The busiest port in North Africa , the facility welcomed 568,000 foreign tourists in 2019 , while some 473,000 entered from Cueta @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The travel restrictions are causing panic in the kingdom ’ s tourism sector , which accounts for 10 percent of GDP and is a key source of foreign exchange .

Tourists from a number of European countries were unable to leave after flights were suspended to many European countries and also to China and Algeria on Saturday. French nationals were allowed to leave on repatriation flights, according to the French Foreign Ministry.
Passengers wait in their cars as they were refused entry at the Tanger Med port in the northern city of Tangiers on the Strait of Gibraltar, March 13, 2020.
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Tourists were stranded in Morocco on Saturday after the kingdom announced strict border restrictions in response to the coronavirus, leaving travellers stuck at borders, ports and airports.
“We are lost!” said David, an Italian tourist waiting at the closed border with the Spanish enclave of Ceuta in northern Morocco.
Morocco suspended air, sea and land links with European countries and Algeria on Friday, as well as taking measures to confine citizens to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
Flights to and from Algeria, Spain, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Portugal and Italy were suspended “until further notice”, while sea links for passengers and Morocco’s land borders with Ceuta and a second Spanish enclave, Melilla, were closed.
But France’s Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian announced Saturday that Rabat had agreed to allow repatriation flights for French nationals.
The first flights back to France took off earlier the same day, he said.
The closure of the only land border between Africa and the European Union at Cueta and Melilla saw Spaniards rushing to leave on Thursday evening, as Moroccan day workers hastily returned in the opposite direction.
The land borders are busiest in summer, but the traffic never ordinarily stops flowing. Now though a Moroccan police roadblock bars the road towards the border with Cueta.
‘Who will pay?’
David said he tried to go to Spain because links with Italy, a hotspot of the disease, are suspended.
After arriving in Morocco for a motorcycle tour with his partner earlier this month, the 33-year-old Italian was stuck at a service station outside Cueta.
The border at Cueta, like that at Melilla, was reopened Friday only for Spaniards. Except for a few travellers, the normally busy border post near the Moroccan town of Fnideq was deserted.
At the service station, camper vans bearing various European license plates were parked waiting.
“We don’t know how long this will last, no one has told us anything,” said Rene, a 71-year-old French man speaking before Le Drian’s announcement.
“The weather is good here, there’s surely fewer cases of coronavirus in Morocco than in France,” he said.
Moroccan authorities have reported 17 cases of COVID-19, including one death. France and Spain have together announced more than 210 COVID-19 deaths.
On the Spanish side at Cueta, stuck Moroccans were wondering why their country would not let them back in.
“If I need to get a hotel, who will pay?” asked a man hoping to return home.
At Tangiers port some 30 kilometres to the west, containers and trucks were unloaded as usual but the passenger terminal was closed.
The busiest port in North Africa, the facility welcomed 568,000 foreign tourists in 2019, while some 473,000 entered from Cueta and Melilla, according to official figures.
The travel restrictions are causing panic in the kingdom’s tourism sector, which accounts for 10 percent of GDP and is a key source of foreign exchange.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-03-14--Trump takes coronavirus test, as US extends travel ban to UK and Ireland

US President Donald Trump speaks in the press briefing room at the White House on March 14 , 2020 , in Washington , D.C. , USA .
US President Donald Trump has taken a coronavirus test but said on Saturday that his temperature was “ totally normal ” , and his administration extended a travel ban to Britain and Ireland to try to contain a pandemic that has shut down much of the daily routine of American life .
After White House officials took the unprecedented step of checking the temperatures of journalists entering the briefing room , Trump told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus on Friday night and that he expects the results in “ a day or two days.
” He met with a Brazilian delegation last week , at least one member of which has since tested positive .
The top U.S. infectious diseases expert , National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Director Anthony Fauci , said the country has recorded 20,226 case of the new coronavirus , but has not yet reached the peak of the outbreak .
“ This will get worse before it gets better , ” Surgeon General Jerome @ @ @ @ @ @ @ President Mike Pence , who is running the administration ’ s response to the outbreak , told reporters that visits to nursing homes were being suspended to protect the most vulnerable .
Earlier on Saturday , officials in New York said an 82-year-old woman became the state ’ s first coronavirus fatality .
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said the woman , who had previously suffered from emphysema , was hospitalized in Manhattan on March 3 .
He told reporters that the state ’ s tally of cases had risen to 524 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ been infected and 50 have died .
On Friday , Trump declared a national emergency in a move that he said would bring “ the full power of the federal government ” to bear on the escalating health crisis by freeing up some $ 50 billion in aid .
He also urged every state to set up emergency centers to help fight the virus .
On Saturday , his administration was expected to extend to Britain and Ireland a ban on travel from Europe that would go into effect on Monday night , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Signaling a new stage in prevention measures to protect U.S. leaders from the coronavirus , the White House on Saturday instituted a policy of checking the temperatures of journalists in the White House briefing room .
The pandemic has forced public schools , sports events and cultural and entertainment venues to close across the United States .
On Friday , American shoppers picked grocery store shelves clean of products ranging from disinfectants to rice , causing retailers to race to restock their stores .
In response to the run on certain items , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Coronavirus took its biggest toll yet on this year ’ s U.S. presidential election when Louisiana announced on Friday it had postponed its Democratic and Republican presidential primaries .
Early on Saturday , the U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed a coronavirus aid package that would provide free testing and paid sick leave , in a bid to limit the economic damage from the outbreak .
By a bipartisan vote of 363 to 40 , the Democratic-controlled House passed a multi-billion dollar effort that would expand safety-net programs to help those who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the weeks to come .
Trump said he supported the package , raising the likelihood that it will pass the Republican-controlled Senate next week .
Economists say the impact of the outbreak on businesses could tip the U.S. economy into recession .

President Donald Trump has tested negative for the novel coronavirus, his physician said Saturday, following concerns over his exposure to a disease that has paralyzed the globe.
US President Donald Trump speaks in the press briefing room at the White House on March 14, 2020, in Washington, D.C., USA.
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Trump agreed to the test after coming in contact with several members of a Brazilian presidential delegation visiting his Florida resort who have since tested positive for the virus.
“This evening I received confirmation that the test is negative,” the president’s physician Sean Conley said in a memo.
“One week after having dinner with the Brazilian delegation at Mar-a-Lago, the President remains symptom-free,” he said.
Trump, 73, had dismissed concerns over his exposure to the disease which has killed at least 51 Americans and upended the rhythm of daily life across the country, with millions working from home and schools shuttered.
New York, the most populous US city, saw its first coronavirus death on Saturday, as store shelves were stripped bare after days of panic buying.
“I have been through Hurricane Sandy... through 9/11, I have never seen shopping like this,” said Larry Grossman, manager of a Manhattan supermarket.
Vice President Mike Pence on Saturday announced a further restriction on travel to the United States, saying a travel ban imposed on European nations over the pandemic would be extended to the United Kingdom and Ireland Tuesday.
Trump advised against non-essential travel, and said officials were considering imposing travel restrictions within the United States.
“If you don’t have to travel, I wouldn’t do it,” Trump said at a White House news conference. “We want this thing to end. We don’t want a lot of people getting infected.”
Chicago Department of Aviation staff is working hard to distribute snacks and bottled water to international arriving travelers waiting in longer-than-usual customs processing lines. Thank you for your patience. pic.twitter.com/982IaBeYCO — O'Hare Intl. Airport (@fly2ohare) March 15, 2020
Trump declared a national emergency on Friday in what critics say was a long-delayed admission of the gravity of the crisis, freeing up some $40 billion in disaster relief funds.
Late Friday, the US House of Representatives passed a bill—crafted by Democrats in consultation with the Trump administration—to provide billions of dollars for free virus testing, emergency paid sick leave and family leave related to the epidemic.
Supported by Trump, it is expected to easily pass the Republican-controlled Senate next week.
News of Trump taking the test marked a further turning point, after days of resistance to the suggestion.
An end to hand-shaking
The coronavirus pandemic has claimed more than 5,700 lives in some 137 countries.
Repeatedly attacked for sending out mixed signals on the health crisis, the president raised eyebrows on Friday when, contrary to medical advice, he was seen shaking hands as he gathered his coronavirus response team at the White House.
On Saturday, he blamed habit—“people put their hand out... you don’t think about it”—but said it would have to change.
“Maybe people shouldn’t be shaking hands for the long term,” said Trump, a self-declared germophobe, “because it does transmit flu and other things.”
Trump’s virus test came after not only contact with the Brazilian delegation, but also US lawmakers and political leaders who have gone into self-quarantine over potential infection.
Republican National Committee chairwoman Ronna McDaniel was on Saturday awaiting results of a virus test after she came down with flu-like symptoms. She reportedly attended an event in Florida with Trump on Monday and flew back to Washington on Air Force One.
A broader travel ban
On Saturday a 30-day US ban took effect on all travel from the EU’s Schengen border-free zone, part of a global clampdown on travel to curtail the virus.
Pence said the ban—which notably excluded Britain and Ireland—would include both countries as of midnight EST on Monday (0400 GMT on Tuesday).
“Americans in the UK or Ireland can come home. Legal (US) residents can come home,” Pence said.
Trump also aimed a new jab at the US Federal Reserve, saying he wanted it to be “much more proactive” in moving to protect Americans from the widespread economic dislocation caused by the pandemic.
But the president—wearing a navy blue USA cap—seemed otherwise subdued during Saturday’s briefing, uncharacteristically offering praise to Democrats including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
Pelosi said she was “proud” to have reached an agreement on the relief package after days of tense talks with the White House.
Trump also tweeted that he had a “nice conversation” with Canadian leader Justin Trudeau and that it was “great to hear that his wonderful wife Sophie is doing very well.”
Trudeau has been telegoverning since his wife was diagnosed with COVID-19 on Thursday.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-03-14--France takes coronavirus precautions ahead of municipal elections

French municipal elections will go ahead on Sunday amid reassurances from the government that all necessary safety precautions are being @ @ @ @ @ the coronavirus .
French voters will choose their mayors and regional representatives for the next @ @ @ @ @ , the first round of which are due to go ahead on Sunday despite fears @ @ @ @ @ government has issued safety guidelines – asking voters to keep their distance from each other @ @ @ @ @ pens – while local authorities have been told to keep queues and crowds as small @ @ @ @ @ round is scheduled to take place on March 22 .

French municipal elections will go ahead on Sunday amid reassurances from the government that all necessary safety precautions are being taken against the spread of the coronavirus.
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French voters will choose their mayors and regional representatives for the next five years at local elections, the first round of which are due to go ahead on Sunday despite fears of coronavirus contagion. The government has issued safety guidelines – asking voters to keep their distance from each other and to bring their own pens – while local authorities have been told to keep queues and crowds as small as possible.
The second round is scheduled to take place on March 22.
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france24--2020-03-14--Nations close borders after WHO declares Europe the new 'epicenter' of coronavirus

Medical staff wear protective clothing during sanitation checks at Jedrzychowice border crossing between Poland and Germany on March 9 , 2020 .
Countries around the world on Saturday continued to close borders , impose strict entry and quarantine requirements and restrict large gatherings in efforts to contain the spread of the new coronavirus .
Apple Inc said it will close all its retail stores worldwide , outside Greater China , until March 27 .
Apple reopened all 42 of its branded stores in China on Friday as the spread of the virus on mainland China slowed dramatically .
Countries have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ events to minimise the risk of coronavirus transmission , with more than 138,000 people worldwide infected and more than 5,000 dead .
Colombia said it will close its borders with Venezuela and stop visitors who have been in Europe or Asia , while a U.S. ban on entry for most people from continental Europe was due to start midnight Friday .
The World Health Organization ( WHO ) says Europe has become the pandemic ’ s current epicentre after reporting more cases and deaths than the rest of world combined , apart from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Saudi Arabia will suspend all international flights for two weeks , starting Sunday , state news agency SPA said , Taiwan will require travellers from mainland Europe , Britain and Ireland to self-isolate for 14 days , while New Zealand implemented a similar measure for all those entering the country .
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern also called on cruise ships , a major source of infections in some countries , not to come to New Zealand until June 30 .
“ Alongside Israel , and a small number of Pacific Islands who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decision will mean New Zealand will have the widest ranging and toughest border restrictions of any country in the world , ” she said .
The country has just six confirmed cases and has had no deaths , but Ardern said that number inevitably would rise .
“ That is why ultimately , we must go hard and we must go early , ” she told reporters .
Chilean President Sebastian Pinera announced a ban on public events with more than 500 people on Friday , joining countries such as Australia where the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Britain will introduce emergency laws next week to ban mass gatherings , said a government source , an escalation of its crisis plan which critics had said was too relaxed .
The Philippines capital Manila , home to 12 million people , announced nighttime curfews on Saturday and urged shopping malls to close for one month .
“ To limit the spread of the virus , we need to limit the movement of people .
We are slowing down the movement of people in Metro Manila , ” said Jose Arturo Garcia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Development Authority .
While infections continue to climb around the world , in mainland China the number of new cases is falling .
The number of new coronavirus cases imported into mainland China from overseas surpassed the number of locally transmitted new infections for the first time on Friday , data released by the National Health Commission showed on Saturday .
Mainland China had 11 new confirmed cases on Friday , up from eight cases a day earlier , but only four of those - all in the virus epicentre of Hubei province @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now seen new infections fall for nine straight days .
All four of the new cases on Friday , down from five a day earlier , were in provincial capital Wuhan .
The flu-like virus has infected 80,824 people in mainland China , the commission said .
In a bid to limit the economic damage from a pandemic that has infected the U.S. House of Representatives passed an aid package that would provide free testing and paid sick leave .
The U.S. military said it will halt most domestic travel , extending earlier @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than a million active-duty troops around the world .
Travel bans have hammered airlines and travel companies worldwide , while financial markets have been hit by panic selling this week .
The impact of the coronavirus on everyday life is also deepening .
The Czech government will shut most shops and restaurants from early Saturday , with exceptions including food stores , pharmacies and gas stations .
In Paris , the Eiffel Tower , the Louvre museum and the Moulin Rouge cabaret closed their doors .
The Smithsonian museums in Washington were preparing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ theatres in New York went dark .
The kissing of the Blarney Stone , one of Ireland ’ s oldest tourist traditions , was suspended .
The global sporting calendar has also been left in tatters with major tournaments cancelled , postponed or forced to continue without spectators .
But sport ’ s biggest showpiece , the Olympics , will still proceed as planned , according to Tokyo organizers .

Countries around the world on Saturday continued to close borders, impose strict entry and quarantine requirements and restrict large gatherings in efforts to contain the spread of the new coronavirus.
Medical staff wear protective clothing during sanitation checks at Jedrzychowice border crossing between Poland and Germany on March 9, 2020.
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Apple Inc said it will close all its retail stores worldwide, outside Greater China, until March 27. Apple reopened all 42 of its branded stores in China on Friday as the spread of the virus on mainland China slowed dramatically.
Countries have shuttered museums, tourist attractions and sporting events to minimise the risk of coronavirus transmission, with more than 138,000 people worldwide infected and more than 5,000 dead.
Colombia said it will close its borders with Venezuela and stop visitors who have been in Europe or Asia, while a U.S. ban on entry for most people from continental Europe was due to start midnight Friday.
The World Health Organization (WHO) says Europe has become the pandemic’s current epicentre after reporting more cases and deaths than the rest of world combined, apart from China where the coronavirus originated last December.
01:30
Saudi Arabia will suspend all international flights for two weeks, starting Sunday, state news agency SPA said, Taiwan will require travellers from mainland Europe, Britain and Ireland to self-isolate for 14 days, while New Zealand implemented a similar measure for all those entering the country.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern also called on cruise ships, a major source of infections in some countries, not to come to New Zealand until June 30.
“Alongside Israel, and a small number of Pacific Islands who have effectively closed their border, this decision will mean New Zealand will have the widest ranging and toughest border restrictions of any country in the world,” she said.
The country has just six confirmed cases and has had no deaths, but Ardern said that number inevitably would rise.
“That is why ultimately, we must go hard and we must go early,” she told reporters.
Chilean President Sebastian Pinera announced a ban on public events with more than 500 people on Friday, joining countries such as Australia where the ban will come into force on Monday.
Britain will introduce emergency laws next week to ban mass gatherings, said a government source, an escalation of its crisis plan which critics had said was too relaxed.
The Philippines capital Manila, home to 12 million people, announced nighttime curfews on Saturday and urged shopping malls to close for one month.
“To limit the spread of the virus, we need to limit the movement of people. We are slowing down the movement of people in Metro Manila,” said Jose Arturo Garcia, general manager of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority.
China new infections falling
While infections continue to climb around the world, in mainland China the number of new cases is falling.
The number of new coronavirus cases imported into mainland China from overseas surpassed the number of locally transmitted new infections for the first time on Friday, data released by the National Health Commission showed on Saturday.
Mainland China had 11 new confirmed cases on Friday, up from eight cases a day earlier, but only four of those - all in the virus epicentre of Hubei province - were locally transmitted.
Hubei has now seen new infections fall for nine straight days. All four of the new cases on Friday, down from five a day earlier, were in provincial capital Wuhan.
The flu-like virus has infected 80,824 people in mainland China, the commission said.
Shops, sport, museums shutter
In a bid to limit the economic damage from a pandemic that has infected the U.S. House of Representatives passed an aid package that would provide free testing and paid sick leave.
The U.S. military said it will halt most domestic travel, extending earlier restrictions on international travel for its more than a million active-duty troops around the world.
Travel bans have hammered airlines and travel companies worldwide, while financial markets have been hit by panic selling this week.
The impact of the coronavirus on everyday life is also deepening.
The Czech government will shut most shops and restaurants from early Saturday, with exceptions including food stores, pharmacies and gas stations.
🇬🇧 In the context of the #COVID19 outbreak and due to the government health measures announced today, the #EiffelTower closes today, from 9pm, for an indefinite period of time. pic.twitter.com/0BnTZgSN9g — La tour Eiffel (@LaTourEiffel) March 13, 2020
In Paris, the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre museum and the Moulin Rouge cabaret closed their doors. The Smithsonian museums in Washington were preparing to do so on Saturday and Broadway theatres in New York went dark.
The kissing of the Blarney Stone, one of Ireland’s oldest tourist traditions, was suspended.
The global sporting calendar has also been left in tatters with major tournaments cancelled, postponed or forced to continue without spectators.
But sport’s biggest showpiece, the Olympics, will still proceed as planned, according to Tokyo organizers.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-03-14--Rockets hit base housing U.S. and coalition troops north of Baghdad

Iraqi forces walk near a building where they found unused Katyusha rockets in Umm al-Izam in this picture provided by Iraqi Media Security Cell on March 14 , 2020 .
A barrage of rockets hit a base housing U.S. and other coalition troops north of Baghdad , Iraqi security officials said Saturday , just days after a similar attack killed three servicemen , including two Americans .
At least two Iraqi soldiers were wounded in the attack at Camp Taji , according to the Iraqi officials , who spoke on condition of anonymity in line with regulations .
The officials @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the base .
Some struck the area where coalition forces are based , while others fell on a runway used by Iraqi forces .
The was no immediate comment from the coalition regarding Saturday 's attack .
The attack was unusual because it occurred during the day .
Previous assaults on military bases housing U.S. troops typically occurred at night .
The previous rocket attack against Camp Taji on Wednesday also killed a British serviceman .
It prompted American airstrikes Friday against what U.S. officials said were mainly weapons facilities belonging to Kataib @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be responsible .
However , Iraq 's military said those airstrikes killed five security force members and a civilian , while wounding five fighters from the Popular Mobilization Forces , an umbrella organization including an array of militias , including some Iran-backed groups .
Iran-backed Shiite militia groups vowed to exact revenge for Friday 's U.S. strikes , signalling another cycle of tit-for-tat violence between Washington and Tehran that could play out inside Iraq .
America 's killing of Iraqi security forces might also give Iran-backed militia groups more reason to stage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ analysts said .
“ We can ’ t forget that the PMF is a recognized entity within the Iraqi security forces ; they aren ’ t isolated from the security forces and often are co-located on the same bases or use the same facilities , ” said Sajad Jiyad , a researcher and former managing director of the Bayan Center , a Baghdad-based think tank .
“ Now the ( Iran-backed ) groups who supported the initial strike in Taji , who were the most outspoken , feel obliged , authorized , maybe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protect Iraqi sovereignty but really to keep the pressure up on Americans , ” he added .
“ There are no red lines anymore , '' Jiyad said .
Wednesday 's attack on Camp Taji was the deadliest to target U.S. troops in Iraq since a late December rocket attack on an Iraqi base , which killed a U.S. contractor .
That attack set in motion a series of attacks that brought Iraq to the brink of war .
After the contractor was killed , America launched airstrikes targeting Kataib Hezbollah , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S. Embassy in Baghdad .
A U.S. drone strike in Baghdad then killed Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani , a top commander responsible for expeditionary operations across the wider Mideast .
Iran struck back with a ballistic missile attack on U.S. forces in Iraq , the Islamic Republic ’ s most direct assault on America since the 1979 seizing of the U.S. Embassy in Tehran .
The U.S. and Iran stepped back from further attacks after the Soleimani incident .
A senior U.S. official said in late January , when U.S.-Iran tensions had cooled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a red line that could spark more violence .

A barrage of rockets hit a base housing U.S. and other coalition troops north of Baghdad, Iraqi security officials said Saturday, just days after a similar attack killed three servicemen, including two Americans.
Iraqi forces walk near a building where they found unused Katyusha rockets in Umm al-Izam in this picture provided by Iraqi Media Security Cell on March 14, 2020.
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At least two Iraqi soldiers were wounded in the attack at Camp Taji, according to the Iraqi officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity in line with regulations.
The officials said over a dozen rockets landed inside the base. Some struck the area where coalition forces are based, while others fell on a runway used by Iraqi forces.
The was no immediate comment from the coalition regarding Saturday's attack.
The attack was unusual because it occurred during the day. Previous assaults on military bases housing U.S. troops typically occurred at night.
The previous rocket attack against Camp Taji on Wednesday also killed a British serviceman. It prompted American airstrikes Friday against what U.S. officials said were mainly weapons facilities belonging to Kataib Hezbollah, the Iran-backed militia group believed to be responsible.
However, Iraq's military said those airstrikes killed five security force members and a civilian, while wounding five fighters from the Popular Mobilization Forces, an umbrella organization including an array of militias, including some Iran-backed groups.
Iran-backed Shiite militia groups vowed to exact revenge for Friday's U.S. strikes, signalling another cycle of tit-for-tat violence between Washington and Tehran that could play out inside Iraq.
America's killing of Iraqi security forces might also give Iran-backed militia groups more reason to stage counterattacks against U.S. troops in Iraq, analysts said.
“We can’t forget that the PMF is a recognized entity within the Iraqi security forces; they aren’t isolated from the security forces and often are co-located on the same bases or use the same facilities,” said Sajad Jiyad, a researcher and former managing director of the Bayan Center, a Baghdad-based think tank.
“Now the (Iran-backed) groups who supported the initial strike in Taji, who were the most outspoken, feel obliged, authorized, maybe even legitimized to respond, ostensibly to protect Iraqi sovereignty but really to keep the pressure up on Americans,” he added.
“There are no red lines anymore," Jiyad said.
Wednesday's attack on Camp Taji was the deadliest to target U.S. troops in Iraq since a late December rocket attack on an Iraqi base, which killed a U.S. contractor. That attack set in motion a series of attacks that brought Iraq to the brink of war.
After the contractor was killed, America launched airstrikes targeting Kataib Hezbollah, which in turn led to protests at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad.
A U.S. drone strike in Baghdad then killed Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani, a top commander responsible for expeditionary operations across the wider Mideast. Iran struck back with a ballistic missile attack on U.S. forces in Iraq, the Islamic Republic’s most direct assault on America since the 1979 seizing of the U.S. Embassy in Tehran.
The U.S. and Iran stepped back from further attacks after the Soleimani incident. A senior U.S. official said in late January, when U.S.-Iran tensions had cooled, that the killing of Americans constituted a red line that could spark more violence.
(AP)
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france24--2020-03-14--Yellow Vests defy coronavirus measures to protest in Paris on eve of local elections

Thousands of French security forces fanned out across central Paris on Saturday as anti-government “ Yellow Vest ” protesters defied a ban on mass gatherings aimed at preventing the spread of coronavirus .
In a televised address to the nation on Thursday , President Emmanuel Macron announced school closures and urged people to avoid close contact for fear of propagating the virus that has killed 79 people in France and infected more than 3,600 .
Interior Minister Christophe Castaner on Friday said all gatherings with more than 100 people had been banned .
Paris police had already turned down requests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this Saturday , including the Champs Elysees where violent clashes broke out between security forces and protesters almost a year ago to the day .
“ It ’ s Saturday , demonstration day .
Some people think that the coronavirus won ’ t touch them and refuse to respect the advice , ” said a riot police officer in front of a heavily armed vehicle blocking the road that leads to the presidential palace .
The government published an official decree on Saturday banning all non-essential gatherings , but hundreds of protesters , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outside the Montparnasse train station , chanting anti-Macron slogans .
The yellow vests , named after the high-visibility jackets they wear , were holding a 70th consecutive Saturday of action .
The movement emerged late in 2018 , triggered by fuel tax rises , and swelled into a revolt against Macron ’ s government .
While protests are now much smaller , anger at Macron ’ s government remains .
Saturday ’ s demonstration serves as a reminder to the President a day before voters are set to go to the polls in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ important test for the former investment banker with opponents now particularly angered by his plans to reform the French pensions system .
His party is not expected to do well .
“ We had to come and mark the day to tell Macron that we ’ re still here and that we won ’ t accept his pension reform , ” said one pensioner .
Voters will begin choosing mayors for 35,000 town halls and almost half a million councillors on Sunday , overshadowed by the coronavirus outbreak which is expected to hit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ usually relatively high .
Macron decided to go ahead with the elections despite the virus concerns , which have led the government to shut schools and universities , suspend major sporting events , curtail public transport and close tourism attractions .
Disneyland Paris became the latest casualty on Saturday closing its doors until the end of March .

Thousands of French security forces fanned out across central Paris on Saturday as anti-government “Yellow Vest” protesters defied a ban on mass gatherings aimed at preventing the spread of coronavirus.
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In a televised address to the nation on Thursday, President Emmanuel Macron announced school closures and urged people to avoid close contact for fear of propagating the virus that has killed 79 people in France and infected more than 3,600.
Interior Minister Christophe Castaner on Friday said all gatherings with more than 100 people had been banned. Paris police had already turned down requests for protesters to demonstrate at sensitive sites this Saturday, including the Champs Elysees where violent clashes broke out between security forces and protesters almost a year ago to the day.
“It’s Saturday, demonstration day. Some people think that the coronavirus won’t touch them and refuse to respect the advice,” said a riot police officer in front of a heavily armed vehicle blocking the road that leads to the presidential palace.
The government published an official decree on Saturday banning all non-essential gatherings, but hundreds of protesters, some wearing protective masks, began convening outside the Montparnasse train station, chanting anti-Macron slogans.
The yellow vests, named after the high-visibility jackets they wear, were holding a 70th consecutive Saturday of action. The movement emerged late in 2018, triggered by fuel tax rises, and swelled into a revolt against Macron’s government.
While protests are now much smaller, anger at Macron’s government remains. Saturday’s demonstration serves as a reminder to the President a day before voters are set to go to the polls in local elections.
The elections are an important test for the former investment banker with opponents now particularly angered by his plans to reform the French pensions system. His party is not expected to do well.
“We had to come and mark the day to tell Macron that we’re still here and that we won’t accept his pension reform,” said one pensioner.
Voters will begin choosing mayors for 35,000 town halls and almost half a million councillors on Sunday, overshadowed by the coronavirus outbreak which is expected to hit turnout at the vote, which is usually relatively high.
Macron decided to go ahead with the elections despite the virus concerns, which have led the government to shut schools and universities, suspend major sporting events, curtail public transport and close tourism attractions. Disneyland Paris became the latest casualty on Saturday closing its doors until the end of March.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-03-13--Louvre, Versailles and Eiffel Tower close over coronavirus crisis

People line up outside Paris 's Louvre Museum as it was closed during a staff meeting about the coronavirus outbreak on March 1 , 2020 .
Following a French government directive banning gatherings of more than 100 people in a bid to contain the coronavirus ’ s spread , the Louvre Museum , Versailles Palace and the Eiffel Tower closed on Friday .
The Louvre in Paris , the world 's most visited museum , said Friday that it was closing `` until further notice '' because of the coronavirus .
The closure of the museum , which had 9.6 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the French government banned all gatherings of over 100 people to limit the spread of the virus .
Versailles Palace – one of France 's other big tourist attraction with nearly 10 million tourists a year – swiftly followed suit .
And the Eiffel Tower said its doors would shut from 9pm local time Friday ( 20:00 GMT ) `` due to the COVID-19 epidemic '' .
Management said it hoped `` to be able to reopen very soon when conditions allow it '' , in a statement on its website Friday .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ people at a time on Monday as the number of cases in France began to rise .
In a sign that the shutdown could be relatively long-lasting , the museum said it was also postponing two upcoming exhibitions , including a show on Italian sculpture from Donatello to Michelangelo which was not due to open until May .
The Musée d'Orsay in Paris , which holds the world 's biggest collection of Impressionist paintings , also followed the Louvre 's lead later Friday .
A string of other museums said they too were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ministry ordered state institutions to shut or to severely restrict entry Friday .
Public theatres , libraries and concert halls were also told to close .
France 's Culture Minister Franck Riester is quarantined at his home after testing positive for the virus earlier this week .
The prospect of a long shutdown has left theatres and concert halls in Paris staring into the financial abyss .
The entertainment industry across France – but particularly in the capital – had already been reeling from a six-week transport strike over pension reforms earlier this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Opera alone facing loses of €16.4 million ( $ 18 million ) .
Impresario Jean-Marc Dumontet , who owns several Paris theatres , told AFP that the shutdown was a devastating double blow .
`` Some of my staff are in tears , '' he said .
`` It 's a knock-out blow .
Projects are having to be abandoned , '' adding that all shows opening between now and August are threatened .
`` It 's extremely sad and really shocking . ''
The Paris Opera has pulled 34 operas , ballets @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the French capital , with only shows after April 24 still due to go ahead for now .
All rehearsals have also been cancelled .
`` We have still enough money to meet our obligations , '' said the Paris Opera 's CEO Martin Ajdari , but he warned that `` anything that will follow this difficult period will be complicated '' .
The Louvre and the Musée d'Orsay had both restricted entry to 1,000 people earlier this week , with the Louvre forcing visitors to book online .
But with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Friday , and the government closing schools and crèches , the museums were forced to take a more radical approach .
The Louvre had closed for two days last week when staff refused to work over health fears .

Following a French government directive banning gatherings of more than 100 people in a bid to contain the coronavirus’s spread, the Louvre Museum, Versailles Palace and the Eiffel Tower closed on Friday.
People line up outside Paris's Louvre Museum as it was closed during a staff meeting about the coronavirus outbreak on March 1, 2020.
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The Louvre in Paris, the world's most visited museum, said Friday that it was closing "until further notice" because of the coronavirus.
The closure of the museum, which had 9.6 million visitors last year, came after the French government banned all gatherings of over 100 people to limit the spread of the virus.
Versailles Palace – one of France's other big tourist attraction with nearly 10 million tourists a year – swiftly followed suit.
And the Eiffel Tower said its doors would shut from 9pm local time Friday (20:00 GMT) "due to the COVID-19 epidemic".
Management said it hoped "to be able to reopen very soon when conditions allow it", in a statement on its website Friday.
The Louvre had restricted entry to 1,000 people at a time on Monday as the number of cases in France began to rise.
In a sign that the shutdown could be relatively long-lasting, the museum said it was also postponing two upcoming exhibitions, including a show on Italian sculpture from Donatello to Michelangelo which was not due to open until May.
The Musée d'Orsay in Paris, which holds the world's biggest collection of Impressionist paintings, also followed the Louvre's lead later Friday.
A string of other museums said they too were closing their doors after the French culture ministry ordered state institutions to shut or to severely restrict entry Friday.
Public theatres, libraries and concert halls were also told to close.
France's Culture Minister Franck Riester is quarantined at his home after testing positive for the virus earlier this week.
Fears of long shutdown
The prospect of a long shutdown has left theatres and concert halls in Paris staring into the financial abyss.
The entertainment industry across France – but particularly in the capital – had already been reeling from a six-week transport strike over pension reforms earlier this year, which has left the Paris Opera alone facing loses of €16.4 million ($18 million).
Impresario Jean-Marc Dumontet, who owns several Paris theatres, told AFP that the shutdown was a devastating double blow.
"Some of my staff are in tears," he said. "It's a knock-out blow. Projects are having to be abandoned," adding that all shows opening between now and August are threatened.
"It's extremely sad and really shocking."
The Paris Opera has pulled 34 operas, ballets and concerts at its two opera houses in the French capital, with only shows after April 24 still due to go ahead for now.
All rehearsals have also been cancelled.
"We have still enough money to meet our obligations," said the Paris Opera's CEO Martin Ajdari, but he warned that "anything that will follow this difficult period will be complicated".
The Louvre and the Musée d'Orsay had both restricted entry to 1,000 people earlier this week, with the Louvre forcing visitors to book online.
But with the death toll in France reaching 61 on Friday, and the government closing schools and crèches, the museums were forced to take a more radical approach.
The Louvre had closed for two days last week when staff refused to work over health fears.
(FRANCE 24 with REUTERS)
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france24--2020-03-15--France votes in nationwide municipal elections despite coronavirus lockdown

France goes to the polls Sunday in nationwide local elections , defying a mounting health crisis caused by the coronavirus outbreak that still risks keeping many voters at home .
President Emmanuel Macron , for whom the two-round polls are a crucial mid-term test , has insisted that the polls to elect mayors and municipal councils must go ahead to assure democratic continuity in the country .
And despite fresh restrictions announced Saturday evening , including the closure of non-essential public places such as cafes , restaurants , cinemas and gyms , the elections will go ahead .
Officials have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the tightest sanitary conditions , despite widespread fear that polling stations are ideal germ-spreading venues and a particular risk for older people .
The president said Thursday that scientists had assured him “ there is nothing to prevent the French , even the most vulnerable , from going to the ballot box ” , provided everyone observes basic infection-prevention rules .
Municipalities have announced various measures to try and keep voters infection-free , including regular disinfection of voting booths , ensuring a safe personal distance between voters waiting in line , and providing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
A second round is also due on March 22 .
But observers say many are bound to shun the democratic exercise for fear of contamination with the novel virus that has killed dozens and infected thousands more in France alone .
A recent opinion poll said 28 percent of potential voters in France were “ concerned ” about the risk posed by mingling at polling stations , often hosted by schools .
“ It is important at this time , following the advice of scientists as we have done , to ensure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that of our institutions , ” Macron said .
Some 47.7 million people are registered to vote in some 35,000 municipalities in a country where mayors and local councillors enjoy high popularity compared to other levels of government .
The election will be a key test for Macron , whose party swept Paris in the 2017 presidential election , but has since lost popularity in part due to its leader ’ s perceived autocratic leadership style and lack of common touch .
The French capital will be the main battleground , with incumbent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ heavyweight Rachida Dati and Macron ’ s candidate Agnes Buzyn—who was parachuted in after his chosen hopeful , Benjamin Griveaux , pulled out over a sex-tape scandal .
Many in France have questioned the wisdom of holding the vote even as the country indefinitely closed all creches , schools and universities , banned gatherings of more than 100 people , and urged residents to limit their movements .
Britain on Friday postponed its own May local elections for a year citing the coronavirus .
But French Interior Minister Christophe Castaner defended his government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about 1,000 voters to every French polling station on average .
And even if the participation rate is 60 percent -- - which is high—that would mean 600 people spread over 10 to 12 hours depending on the district .
The risk from voting for the elderly was no greater “ than going shopping ” , insisted Jean-Francois Delfraissy , chairman of France ’ s coronavirus science council .
“ It is certain that many people will be dissuaded from voting , ” political historian Jean Garrigues of the University of Orleans told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are not at high risk of dying from COVID-19 -- are most likely to hold it up as a reason not to vote .
Even if this is just a pretext for the politically apathetic , it could impact parties that young people are more likely to support—the Greens and the far-left France Unbowed , said Garrigues .
Older people , even though they are more motivated to vote , may end up staying away out of fear , thus robbing parties such as the right-wing Republicans or Macron ’ s centre-right Republic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ votes .
This means that the political repercussions of high voter abstention among the young and the old could cancel each other out , said Garrigues .

French citizens went to the polls on Sunday for local elections despite a nationwide lockdown announced just a day earlier brought on by the coronavirus outbreak – and which might end up convincing many voters to stay at home.
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President Emmanuel Macron, for whom the two-round polls are a crucial mid-term test, has insisted that the polls to elect mayors and municipal councils must go ahead to assure democratic continuity in the country.
And despite fresh restrictions announced Saturday evening, including the closure of all non-essential public places such as cafés, restaurants, cinemas and gyms, the elections will go ahead.
Officials have said that voting will take place under the strictest conditions to counter widespread fear that polling stations are ideal germ-spreading venues and a particular risk for older people.
Macron said Thursday that scientists had assured him “there is nothing to prevent the French, even the most vulnerable, from going to the ballot box”, provided everyone observes basic infection-prevention rules.
The interior ministry said turnout nationwide at noon was 18.3 percent on Sunday, down 5 percent from that recorded at midday in 2014.
Municipalities have announced various measures to try to keep voters infection-free, including the regular disinfection of voting booths, ensuring a safe personal distance between those waiting in line, and providing sanitising hand gels upon entry and exit.
A second round of voting is currently set for March 22.
“It is important at this time, following the advice of scientists as we have done, to ensure the continuity of our democratic life and that of our institutions,” Macron said.
But some observers say many are likely to opt to stay home to avoid the novel coronavirus that has already killed dozens and infected thousands more in France alone.
A recent opinion poll said 28 percent of potential voters in France were “concerned” about the risk posed by mingling at polling stations, often set up in schools.
03:08
Some 47.7 million people are registered to vote in some 35,000 municipalities in a country where mayors and local councillors enjoy high popularity compared to those at other levels of government.
The election will be a key test for Macron, whose party swept Paris in the 2017 presidential election but has since lost popularity, in part due to perceptions that he has an autocratic leadership style and lacks a common touch.
The French capital will be the main battleground, with incumbent Socialist Mayor Anne Hidalgo challenged by right-wing former justice minister Rachida Dati and Macron’s candidate Agnes Buzyn – who was parachuted in after Macron's chosen hopeful, Benjamin Griveaux, withdrew over a sex-tape scandal.
‘Many will be dissuaded’
Many in France have questioned the wisdom of holding the vote even as the country indefinitely closed all nurseries, schools and universities, banned gatherings of more than 100 people and urged residents to limit their movements.
Britain on Friday postponed its own May local elections for a year, citing the coronavirus.
But French Interior Minister Christophe Castaner defended his government’s decision, saying there were about 1,000 voters to every French polling station on average.
And even if the participation rate is 60 percent – which is high – that would mean 600 people spread out over 10 to 12 hours, depending on the district.
The risk for the elderly was no greater “than going shopping”, insisted Jean-François Delfraissy, chairman of France’s coronavirus science council.
“It is certain that many people will be dissuaded from voting,” political historian Jean Garrigues of the University of Orléans told AFP.
Polls show that young people – who are not at high risk of dying from COVID-19 – are among the most likely to cite it as a reason not to vote. This could impact parties that young people are more likely to support – the Greens and the far-left France Unbowed, said Garrigues.
But older people, even though they are usually more motivated to vote, may end up staying away out of fear, thus robbing parties such as the right-wing Les Republicains or Macron’s centre-right Republic on the Move party of votes.
As a result, Garrigues said, the political repercussions of high voter abstention among both the young and the old could cancel each other out.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP and REUTERS)
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france24--2020-03-15--Georgia, Louisiana postpone US presidential primaries over coronavirus

A worker wearing gloves places sorted Democratic Party ballots into containers during the presidential primary at King County Elections ballot processing center in Renton , Washington , on March 10 , 2020 .
Georgia ’ s March 24 presidential primaries have been postponed until May because of fears over the new coronavirus , state election officials announced Saturday , a day after Louisiana also pushed back its primaries .
In-person early voting , which began statewide March 2 , will be halted and the election will be moved to May 19 , when Georgia ’ s other 2020 primary elections @ @ @ @ @ @ @ State Brad Raffensperger said in a statement .
In addition to public safety , one big consideration was the risk the virus posed to poll workers , who are often older , election officials said .
“ Events are moving rapidly and my highest priority is protecting the health of our poll workers , and the community at large , ” Raffensperger said .
The action followed Republican Gov .
Brian Kemp ’ s signature of an emergency declaration that unlocked sweeping powers to fight COVID-19 .
In a speech Saturday , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ worship , schools and others to consider canceling large gatherings as cases in the state rise .
On Friday , Louisiana became the first state to postpone its presidential primaries due to the virus .
As of Saturday , the virus had infected more than 150,000 people worldwide and killed over 5,800 .
The U.S. counted more than 2,100 infections and 60 dead , as President Donald Trump expanded a ban on travel from Europe by adding Britain and Ireland to the list .
Georgia is reporting 66 confirmed cases , with most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the state has been attributed to the virus .
Cobb County Elections Director Janine Eveler said in an interview Saturday evening that her heavily populated metro Atlanta county had seen “ a little over 100 ” poll workers quit in recent days because of fears over the virus .
“ Each day we had more and more poll workers wanting to bow out due to concern over their health , ” Eveler said , adding that she believed the decision to postpone the election was the right one .
Trump is the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ presidential primary ballot .
The Democratic race has been narrowed to a two-man matchup between former Vice President Joe Biden and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders , with Biden leading in the delegate count nationally .
In states that have already held their primaries , Biden has been beating Sanders among key demographics at play in Georgia Democratic politics , including African Americans and suburban voters , and has been endorsed by a slew of state and local officials .
Raffensperger ’ s office said that the decision to postpone the election was made @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republican Parties .
“ Our priority is to protect the health and safety of all Georgians and to ensure that as many people as possible have an opportunity to vote , ” state Sen. Nikema Williams , chair of the Democratic Party of Georgia said , according to the statement .
“ Continued in-person voting could compromise both goals.
” All votes already cast , including in-person and absentee ballots , will be counted , the statement says .
As of Thursday , 224,000 voters had already cast ballots in the primary , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The delayed election is the latest in a long list of disruptions to ordinary life the virus has caused .
School districts covering the majority of Georgia ’ s 1.8 million public school students have announced closures .
Among many events postponed or canceled are the NCAA Final Four basketball tournament in Atlanta , Savannah ’ s St. Patrick ’ s Day parade and the Masters golf tournament in Augusta .

Georgia’s March 24 presidential primaries have been postponed until May because of fears over the new coronavirus, state election officials announced Saturday, a day after Louisiana also pushed back its primaries.
A worker wearing gloves places sorted Democratic Party ballots into containers during the presidential primary at King County Elections ballot processing center in Renton, Washington, on March 10, 2020.
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In-person early voting, which began statewide March 2, will be halted and the election will be moved to May 19, when Georgia’s other 2020 primary elections are being held, Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger said in a statement.
In addition to public safety, one big consideration was the risk the virus posed to poll workers, who are often older, election officials said.
“Events are moving rapidly and my highest priority is protecting the health of our poll workers, and the community at large,” Raffensperger said.
The action followed Republican Gov. Brian Kemp’s signature of an emergency declaration that unlocked sweeping powers to fight COVID-19. In a speech Saturday, the governor renewed a call for places of worship, schools and others to consider canceling large gatherings as cases in the state rise.
On Friday, Louisiana became the first state to postpone its presidential primaries due to the virus.
As of Saturday, the virus had infected more than 150,000 people worldwide and killed over 5,800. The U.S. counted more than 2,100 infections and 60 dead, as President Donald Trump expanded a ban on travel from Europe by adding Britain and Ireland to the list.
Georgia is reporting 66 confirmed cases, with most concentrated around metro Atlanta. One death in the state has been attributed to the virus.
I believe it is necessary and prudent to suspend in-person voting in the Pres Pref Primary, & the local elections associated with them, & resume in-person voting for those elections as part of the already scheduled May 19 Gen Primary.
Full statement: https://t.co/QIiMwQE6vC — GA Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger (@GaSecofState) March 14, 2020
Cobb County Elections Director Janine Eveler said in an interview Saturday evening that her heavily populated metro Atlanta county had seen “a little over 100” poll workers quit in recent days because of fears over the virus. “Each day we had more and more poll workers wanting to bow out due to concern over their health,” Eveler said, adding that she believed the decision to postpone the election was the right one.
Trump is the only candidate on Georgia’s Republican presidential primary ballot.
The Democratic race has been narrowed to a two-man matchup between former Vice President Joe Biden and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, with Biden leading in the delegate count nationally. In states that have already held their primaries, Biden has been beating Sanders among key demographics at play in Georgia Democratic politics, including African Americans and suburban voters, and has been endorsed by a slew of state and local officials.
Raffensperger’s office said that the decision to postpone the election was made in consultation with the state Democratic and Republican Parties.
“Our priority is to protect the health and safety of all Georgians and to ensure that as many people as possible have an opportunity to vote,” state Sen. Nikema Williams, chair of the Democratic Party of Georgia said, according to the statement. “Continued in-person voting could compromise both goals.”
All votes already cast, including in-person and absentee ballots, will be counted, the statement says.
As of Thursday, 224,000 voters had already cast ballots in the primary, according to Associated Press Elections Research.
The delayed election is the latest in a long list of disruptions to ordinary life the virus has caused.
School districts covering the majority of Georgia’s 1.8 million public school students have announced closures. Among many events postponed or canceled are the NCAA Final Four basketball tournament in Atlanta, Savannah’s St. Patrick’s Day parade and the Masters golf tournament in Augusta.
(AP)
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france24--2020-03-14--Coronavirus in France: PM announces closure of cafes, shops, restaurants and cinemas

French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe announces new measures to limit the spread of COVID-19 , on March 14 , 2020 , in Paris .
France has gone on lockdown after French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe ordered the closure of restaurants , cafés and all other `` non-indispensable '' commerce beginning at midnight on Saturday .
Groceries , pharmacies , tobacconists and petrol stations will remain open .
France will shut most shops , restaurants and entertainment facilities from midnight on Saturday and people should stay home as much as possible as the spread of coronavirus is accelerating , Prime Minister @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at a news conference after the public health authority said 91 people had died in France and almost 4,500 were now infected .
“ I have decided to close all non-indispensable locations , notably cafes , restaurants , cinemas , nightclubs and shops , ” he said .
“ We must absolutely limit our movements.
” Exceptions to the shop ban will include food stores , pharmacies and petrol stations .
Philippe said the government had been left with no choice because too many people were still out in the streets and not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ keeping a safe distance from each other .
That , he said , was helping accelerate the spread of the virus .
France has already ordered the closure of schools from Monday and had advised people over the age of 70 to stay home .
Philippe said public transport would remain open , but that the government expected companies to put into place systems for people to work from home beginning on Monday .
However , he said local elections on Sunday would go ahead under strict sanitary conditions .
President Emmanuel Macron @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the elections , saying it was vital the democratic system continue to function , despite some criticism and concern over the possibility of people being infected at polling stations .
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 .
“ To date , there has not been enough awareness by French women and men of the importance of their role in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ urgent .
Now is the time to change our behavior , ” he said .
“ We must now do everything to delay , to slow down , to clip the curve of this epidemic.
” The government wants to avoid a situation where hospitals are overwhelmed by the number of serious cases .
Neighbouring Italy ’ s health system has been severely strained by the coronavirus outbreak there .
“ I am conscious of the efforts and sacrifices that we are asking , but I have faith that the French people will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of this moment , ” Philippe said .

France has gone on lockdown after French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe ordered the closure of restaurants, cafés and all other "non-essential" commerce beginning at midnight on Saturday. Groceries, pharmacies, tobacconists and petrol stations will remain open.
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Prime Minister Edouard Philippe ordered most shops, restaurants and entertainment facilities to close starting at midnight on Saturday and told people to stay home as much as possible to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
Philippe was speaking at a news conference after the public health authority said 91 people had died in France and almost 4,500 were now infected.
“I have decided to close all non-essential locations, notably cafés, restaurants, cinemas, nightclubs and shops,” he said. “We must absolutely limit our movements.”
Exceptions to the ban will include grocery stores, pharmacies and petrol stations.
Philippe said the government had been left with no choice but to implement stricter measures after too many people were still out in the streets, enjoying cafés and restaurants and not sufficiently self-isolating as the government had earlier suggested.
That, he said, was helping accelerate the spread of the virus. France has already ordered the closure of all schools starting Monday and has advised people over the age of 70 to stay home.
“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 understand the seriousness of this moment,” Philippe said.
>> In pictures: France on lockdown as all 'non-essential' businesses close
The announcement came hours after France's health minister warned that people should not use anti-inflammatory painkillers – like aspirin, naproxen and ibuprofen – if they have coronavirus-like symptoms because they could worsen the condition.
"Taking anti-inflammatory drugs (ibuprofen, cortisone ...) could be an aggravating factor for the infection. If you have a fever, take paracetamol," Health Minister Oliver Véran said on Twitter.
01:29
President Emmanuel Macron decided last week to go ahead with nationwide municipal elections on Sunday, saying it was vital for the democratic system to continue to function despite some criticism and concerns over the possibility of people being infected as they gather at polling stations.
Jérôme 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.
“To date, there has not been enough awareness by French women and men of the importance of their role in the face of the virus. It is urgent. Now is the time to change our behaviour,” he said.
00:22
“We must now do everything to delay, to slow down, to flatten the curve of this epidemic,” Salomon said.
The government wants to avoid a situation where hospitals are overwhelmed by the number of serious cases after neighbouring Italy’s health system was severely strained by the coronavirus outbreak there.
France's interior ministry said on Sunday it would begin implementing tougher checks of both people and goods at the border with Germany in a bid to limit the spread of coronavirus although it will not close the border completely, contradicting some earlier media reports.
"We are going to limit border crossings to the strict minimum while allowing people and merchandise to go through. It's not a closure," an interior ministry source told AFP.
(FRANCE 24 with REUTERS and AFP)
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