French President Emmanuel Macron has further tightened restrictions on freedom of movement, suspended economic reforms and delayed the second round of local elections in the fight against coronavirus, declaring in a speech to the nation: “We are at war.”
Mr Macron said he had decided to ban the French from making anything other than essential outings from their homes on pain of punishment for at least two weeks, although people would be allowed to shop for food, take exercise and go to work if it was impossible for them to do their jobs remotely.
“Never has France had to take such decisions, albeit temporary, in time of peace,” he said. “All our energy should be on one aim: to slow the progress of the virus.”