France warns against handshakes as corona infections soar
29 February, 2020
French authorities on Friday recommended that persons avoid shaking hands to avoid infection from the coronavirus as the quantity of confirmed cases jumped by 19 to 57.
France may also keep several schools in the Oise area north of Paris closed after holidays end on Sunday so as to halt the spread of the virus, Health Minister Olivier Veran said.
“The virus is currently circulating on our territory ... I would recommend that, for now, persons do not shake hands,” Veran told reporters at a daily briefing about the outbreak.
Veran called on citizens to greatly help stop the spread of the virus by respecting authorities’ safety instructions.
“Protect yourself and your family members,” he said.
Separately, Defense Minister Florence Parly said on her Twitter feed that several confirmed coronavirus infections have been reported on the military base of Creil, north of Paris.
French President Emmanuel Macron’s office said on Friday that the federal government will meet on Saturday to go over the health crisis.
On Thursday, medical ministry had reported 38 cases of coronavirus in France, which two people had died, 12 were cured and 24 were hospitalized, with two of these being in a “serious condition”.
Source: www.thejakartapost.com