国际英语资讯:France struggles to contain coronavirus with proportional, progressive strategy_时事

国际英语资讯:France struggles to contain coronavirus with proportional, progressive strategy

"We are managing to not take such action," Health Minister Olivier Veran told state-run France info radio after Italy decided to place all the country in lockdown until April 3, affecting some 60 million people.

"We are taking gradual measures adapted to each territory," he explained. "The difference with Italy is that we do not prevent social, economic and democratic life when it is possible to continue."

For Francois Bricaire, epidemiologist and member of the Academy of Medicine, "the government has taken a certain number of perfectly legitimate and reasonable measures" to contain the coronavirus outbreak.

"We must of course take into account the need to protect (the people against the virus), but there is also the need to live and maintain a certain number of activities. This can be done provided that the infectious phenomenon is not severe enough," he told France info radio.

MEASURES STEPPED UP

Guided by the 2011 epidemic plan, France has ordered travel restriction to affected countries and isolation of infected people and suspect cases since the first coronavirus case was detected on Jan. 24.

Officials and health experts repeatedly reiterated the need to respect "simple and effective barrier gestures" including frequent hand washing, using one-time tissues, coughing or sneezing into the elbow, avoiding handshakes and hugs.

As the flu-like illness rapidly spread in neighbouring Italy, France stepped up measures. Since Feb. 28, all gatherings expected to draw 5,000 people in confined spaces as well as certain events in an open environment have been prohibited across France. Some 150 schools were shut down in l'Oise in northern France, and Haut-de Savoie near Italian borders where the virus was rapidly spreading.