France has ordered "more than 250 million masks" to fight against the coronavirus epidemic which has led to the deployment of exceptional containment measures this week, Health Minister Olivier Véran announced on Saturday.

The government has seized its Scientific Council on the "duration" and "extent" of the containment of the population in the face of the coronavirus epidemic and the answer will be given on Monday, said Saturday the Minister of Health Olivier Véran.

Controversy over the shortage of masks

In addition, the authorities have ordered "250 million masks" which will be delivered "progressively", the current shortage of which, in particular for nursing staff, is fueling a controversy, said the minister during a press briefing.