Paris (AFP)

All "gatherings of more than 5,000 people" in a closed environment and certain outdoor events, such as the Paris half-marathon on Sunday, will be canceled in France in the face of the intensification of the epidemic caused by the new coronavirus, announced the government on Saturday.

These measures, taken during a Defense Council and an exceptional Council of Ministers, also lead to canceling the last day of the Agricultural Show Sunday in Paris, said the Minister of Health Olivier Véran.

According to him, 16 new cases were confirmed in the country compared to Friday evening, 73 in total since the end of January.

This "represents a total of 59 hospitalized patients", "12 cured" and 2 deceased (a 60-year-old French teacher whose death was announced on Wednesday and an 80-year-old Chinese tourist).

Across the country, "all gatherings of more than 5,000 people in confined spaces will be canceled," said Véran.

The Paris half-marathon, which was to take place on Sunday, fits this definition. However, not the Ligue 1 football games this weekend, said Véran.

Among the canceled events cited "as an example" by the Minister, are "the Annecy carnival from March 6 to 8" and the Cannes Mipim real estate fair, which the organizers had announced a little earlier that it would be shifted to June.

"These measures are provisional and we will undoubtedly have to make them evolve, they are restrictive measures and we paradoxically wish that they last a little, because that would mean that we manage to contain the spread of the virus", added Mr. Véran.

Even more stringent measures have been taken for the two main centers of spread of the virus in France, the Oise and the commune of La Balme-de-Sillingy in Haute-Savoie.

"In the Oise and in the town of La Balme, all gatherings will be prohibited until further notice," said Véran.

In the five municipalities of the Oise particularly affected, Creil, Crépy-en-Valois, Vaumoise, Lamorlaye, Lagny-le-Sec, as well as in La Balme, "we recommend residents to limit their trips".

"They can travel for food, to do their shopping", but they must avoid "unnecessary travel" and must "if possible use telework".

In the five municipalities of Oise, "schools which have contact cases and which therefore present a higher risk will not reopen on Monday", according to Mr. Véran.

© 2020 AFP