France confirms 949 coronavirus cases, 16 deaths

France confirmed on Saturday a total of 949 cases of coronavirus infection, up 336 from the previous day, and 16 deaths, according to Health General Director Jerome Salomon.

Of the fatalities, including 11 men and five women, 12 were over the age of 70 with other illnesses. Among those infected, 278 are directly linked to a chain of contamination or a cluster, 45 are hospitalized in intensive care, Salomon said at a daily briefing on COVID-19.

"The virus is actively spreading in certain areas that we are monitoring closely," Salomon said, adding that France remained at "Stage 2", or the pre-epidemic level, in the country's epidemic alert system.

It meant that the virus is not yet actively spreading all over the country, Salomon added. France has been at Stage 2 (pre-epidemic) since Feb. 28.

"We are in the daily observation and adaptation of the measures according to the evolution of the virus," he said. "We will move towards Stage 3 in a progressive and inevitable way, and then we will arrive at Stage 4, which means a return to normal situation."

Since Feb. 28, all gatherings which expected to draw 5,000 people in confined spaces as well as certain events in an open environment have been banned across France. Some 150 schools were shut down, involving 45,000 students and 3,000 teachers.

Local authorities especially of two heavily affected regions -- l'Oise in northern France and Haut-Rhin near German borders -- have ordered the closure of all educational institutions for 15 days starting from March 9.

According to Minister of Education Jean-Michel Blanquer, 155,000 students are involved in l'Oise and 127,000 in Haut-Rhin, all of whom will be able to follow "class at home".

At the daily briefing, Salomon once again urged people, notably the children, to limit visits to elderly people, who are most vulnerable to a coronavirus infection.

He also 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.