France on Friday reported 19 new confirmed coronavirus cases, taking the total to 57, and French Health Minister Olivier Veran recommended that people refrain from shaking hands in order to prevent infection.
He also said that several schools in the Oise area north of Paris would remain closed after holidays end on Sunday in order to halt the spread of the virus.
Separately, Defense Minister Florence Parly said on her Twitter feed that several confirmed coronavirus infections had been reported on the military base of Creil, north of Paris.
EU health ministers to hold meeting next Friday
Meanwhile, EU health ministers will meet next Friday “to discuss measures related to the COVID19 outbreak,” a European Commission spokesman announced on Twitter.
The meeting was not previously scheduled. The last such meeting on the issue took place two weeks ago with the ministers promising to coordinate over the spreading virus.
ALSO READ: Switzerland halts all major events amid coronavirus fears
Member states in the bloc are signing up to an initiative to jointly procure medical equipment such as masks to confront the epidemic.
As of late Friday, the new coronavirus had infected 815 people in EU members states as well as Britain, Switzerland and Norway, and caused 19 deaths, according the EU’s European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control.
Most of them were in Italy, where an outbreak in the economically important north of the country has prompted a quarantine of 11 villages.
The EU acknowledges that the virus is causing economic damage, but is still assessing the magnitude. Tourism and supply chains, notably those from China, have been especially impacted.
Follow Al Arabiya English's special coverage on the coronavirus outbreak.
Also Read
-
Lebanon to restrict entry from key coronavirus-hit countries
Lebanon announced Friday it would bar entry to non-resident foreigners from the four countries most affected by the coronavirus outbreak, a day after ... Middle East -
Palestine health minister in coughing fit during presser over coronavirus threat
A video of the Palestinian Health Minister Mai al-Kailah coughing during her press conference regarding the threats of the coronavirus outbreak ... Variety -
Saudi Arabia temporarily bars GCC citizens from Mecca, Medina over coronavirus
Saudi Arabia will be temporarily suspending the entry of citizens from the Gulf Cooperation Council to the Kingdom’s cities of Mecca and Medina, ... Gulf -
Iran may set up field hospitals in Qom as facilities hit max capacity
Iran may resort to setting up field hospitals in Qom as hospitals have hit maximum capacity due to the coronavirus outbreak in the city, the deputy ... Middle East
