France Closes Eiffel Tower due to Coronavirus

The French authorities decided to close the Louvre Museum as of Friday, until further notice due to concerns about the spread of the new Coronavirus.

The French "France 24" news agency published a statement issued by the French government stated that the decision to close the famous Louvre Museum came as a precaution step against the background of the spread of the new Coronavirus.

According to Sky News, satellite channel, the French authorities decided to close the Eiffel Tower in Paris, until further notice, in an attempt to contain the spread of the new Coronavirus, which the World Health Organization renamed it as "COVID 19".

On Thursday, the French Ministry of Health announced 13 new deaths from the Coronavirus.

The toll of death owing to the deadly virus rose to 61 deaths.

The health authorities also recorded 595 new cases, bringing the total number of infections to 2,876.

In a speech addressed to the French people, French President Emmanuel Macron said that the epidemic is spreading rapidly despite the efforts made to stop it.

He warns of a second wave of the spread of the disease.

He instructed the concerned bodies to focus their efforts to protect people with fragile health against the deadly virus.

The French leader recommends the elderly who are above seventy years to stay in their homes.

Macron stressed that companies will be allowed to postpone payment of their tax dues for the month of March.

The French government will compensate all employees who will not go to work because of the virus.

Macron announced on Thursday evening that all educational institutions, including nurseries, middle schools, high schools, and universities will be closed as of Monday until further notice.

Macron justified the decision of closing the educational institutions like the children and young people, according to scientists, who are the ones spreading the virus rapidly even if they have no symptoms.

The presidential decree came as a step to combat the outbreak of the new Coronavirus, which was renamed by the World Health Organization (WHO) as COVID2019.

Macron asked people who are over 70 years of age to stay in their homes lest they contract infection with the deadly Coronavirus.

The French President said, over a televised speech to the nation reported by (France 24) news channel, that the Coronavirus was the worst health crisis in France within a century.

He called citizens to limit their movements to the necessary and minimum distances to avoid possibilities of the infection.

Despite this, he affirmed in his speech that the first round of municipal elections scheduled for Sunday, March 15 will be held in time.