Coronavirus update - French Prime Minister warns this is a crisis that will last

The French Prime minister has warned this morning that France is settling into a crisis that will last.

"We will have to hold on". Following a videoconference with the whole of the government at the interministerial crisis cell installed at the Ministry of the Interior, Edouard Philippe warned this Friday against the evolution of the epidemic of coronavirus in the days to come.

"The epidemic wave that is sweeping France (east) right now arriving in Ile-de-France," he continued. "It is extremely high. The medical teams are coping with great precision and courage, it is a remarkable feat but the situation will be difficult in the days to come."

"We are settling in a crisis that will last. In a health situation that will not improve quickly", added the Prime Minister who announced that a press point would be held tomorrow with the Minister of Health Olivier Véran to answer "all questions relating to our strategy, the availability of equipment, masks, tests".

The Elysée has announced that a council of ministers is meeting this Friday afternoon. Its objective will be to adopt the last five ordinances of the law on the state of health emergency.

Edouard Philippe notably thanked the nursing staff faced with "a formidable tension" but also sent a message to the teachers who "in circumstances and in often degraded situations do a remarkable job to try to guarantee this educational continuity" . 

"All of the public services are remarkably mobilized and the country must express their gratitude and confidence to them," insisted the Prime Minister, who also praised "our fellow citizens who continue their professional activity".