More countries have announced stringent measures to combat the spread of the novel coronavirus COVID-19, with France closing all schools and demanding the elderly to stay at home.
In a televised address, President Emmanuel Macron announced all schools and universities will be closed from Monday "until further notice". People over the age of 70, who are more likely to die from COVID-19 once infected, are urged to remain at home.
Macron confirmed that municipal elections will still be held on Sunday despite the pandemic.
"In this new stage of the fight against coronavirus we are closing schools, colleges and high schools," French Education and Youth Minister Jean-Michel Blanquer confirmed on Twitter.
"Each [education provider] is prepared on a practical and educational level."
According to international Paris-based news agency Agence France-Presse, Macron has also called on the French to limit their travel to "what is strictly necessary".
To ease the economic impact of the virus, the state will pay the salaries of people forced to stop work. Businesses will not have to pay taxes due in March.
The President called the COVID-19 outbreak "the most serious health crisis that France has experienced in a century", announcing that France will do "whatever it costs".
As of Friday morning (NZ time), 48 people have died from the virus in France.
The Republic of Ireland
It has also been announced that the Republic of Ireland will close all schools, universities and childcare facilities as of Friday (local time) to combat the spread of the virus.
Prime Minister Leo Varadkar announced the measures on Thursday (local time), the closures also applying to museums, cultural institutions and tourist attractions.
As reported by CNN, indoor gatherings of more than 100 people and outdoor gatherings of more than 500 people will also be cancelled.
"Arrangements are being made to ensure that everyone entering Ireland through its ports and airports are fully informed and self-isolates if they develop symptoms," Varadkar announced.
Public transport and shops are permitted to operate, but residents are urged to work from home.
The first death linked to COVID-19 in the Republic of Ireland was recorded on Wednesday, with a total of 43 confirmed cases and a further 18 in Northern Ireland.
Spain
Universities and schools will also be closed across a number of Spain's regional governments, including in Catalonia, the Basque Country, Valencia and the Canary Islands. Madrid and La Rioja implemented the same precaution earlier this week.
As of Friday morning (NZ time), 84 people have been killed by the COVID-19 outbreak in Spain, with more than 2900 confirmed cases.
According to El Pais, the Madrid health authority has cancelled all leave for health workers in the region, instead permitting fexible work schedules in hospitals and clinics. Madrid mayor José Luis Martínez-Almeida has called on citizens to remain at home as the capital battles an influx of cases.
Every member of the Spanish cabinet is reportedly being tested for coronavirus.
Germany
According to a live tracker by Johns Hopkins University, Germany currently has the seventh highest number of COVID-19 cases worldwide with 2078 infections. Its third death was announced on Wednesday (local time).
As reported by the BBC, German Chancellor Angela Merkel has warned that up to 70 percent of the country's 58 million people could contract the virus. During a press conference with Health Minister Jens Spahn on Wednesday (local time), Merkel said "winning time" is essential.
She also claimed that border closures would not be enough to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and ruled out implementing Austria's tactic of banning visitors from Italy.
"Uncensored" news network Voice of Europe has called out Merkel for hypocrisy, claiming her call for "solidarity" contradicts Germany's decision to block the export of medical supplies, including masks and gloves.
According to website berlin.de, the Berlin health administration has banned events for 1000 people or more until the end of the Easter holidays. Health senator Dilek Kalayci announced the measure was needed to help contain the spread of the virus.
A questionnaire on Berlin's official website has also drawn criticism on social media, the health department requesting people who have been in contact with an infected individual to "print out, fill out and send" the questionnaire. It also permits email, but warns of a "high level of incoming emails and telephone inquiries".
Around the world
In the Middle East, Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has also declared that schools and universities will be closed as a precautionary measure.
"We are altering our internal routine in order to handle an outside threat, the threat of the virus," Netanyahu said in a live broadcast, according to Reuters.
Earlier this week, Netanyahu ordered all visitors to Israel to self-isolate for two weeks. The Allenby Bridge crossing between Jordan and the Israeli-occupied West Bank was also closed, in what Israeli officials claimed was a joint Palestinian, Israeli and Jordanian effort to stop the outbreak.
There have been 109 confirmed cases in Israel but no deaths.
