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France will ban the concentrations of more than 5,000 people in enclosed spaces by the coronavirus throughout the national territory, French Health Minister Olivier Véran announced in a press conference on Saturday. And it will decide, on a case-by-case basis, whether to cancel massive outdoor events.

President Emmanuel Macron convened on Saturday a Defense Council and an extraordinary Council of Ministers to coordinate the different ministries and prepare measures to address the coronavirus. France went on Friday to the so-called phase 2 (of the three existing ones) to find that the virus is circulating in the country and has already begun to take measures to stop its spread.

The French Government decided to suspend all collective acts and close the schools of five communes in the department of Oise, the main area affected by the coronavirus and located in the north of the country.

He also decided to close a day earlier than planned the Paris Agriculture Salon and cancel the half marathon that was to be held this Sunday in the capital and in which 44,000 runners were to participate. And he canceled the Cannes MIPIM real estate hall and the Annecy Venetian carnival.

For now, the municipal elections are held , which should be held in France on March 15 and 22. Canceling them would be a huge cost, but the Government would be willing to do so if it considers it necessary.

Véran, who is a doctor by profession, recalled that "small gestures" such as frequent hand washing , sneezing in the arm and not in the hand, using tissues or avoiding handshaking to greet each other are important to prevent the spread of the coronavirus .

The French Catholic Church also announced on Saturday measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19, after a priest from the diocese of Paris who lived in Italy and returned in mid-February to France tested positive for coronavirus.

The Diocese of Paris recommends that its priests give communion in the hands of the faithful, not offer them the chalice for communion, suppress the greeting of peace in the masses and empty the piles of holy water in the churches to prevent the spread of the virus .

Since January 24, 73 confirmed cases of coronavirus have been registered in France, 16 more than on Friday. On Saturday, 59 people were hospitalized and 12 people were considered officially cured and had left the hospital. Two patients, an 80-year-old Chinese citizen and a 60-year-old Frenchman, died of the coronavirus.

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