France in coronavirus lockdown as long as needed: Minister

France will remain in lockdown as long as needed to contain the spread of coronavirus, Health Minister Olivier Veran said on Tuesday.

In its conclusions, the scientific council, which met on Tuesday and whose recommendations have been followed by the government, said the confinement should last "at least six weeks" after it has been put in place.

"At present, confinement is the only really operational strategy. The epidemiological effects of containment can only be observed from a period of two to three weeks from its implementation," said the council. "Three weeks after the start of containment are therefore necessary to obtain a first estimate of its impact."

"The confinement has the vocation to protect the French. We will know when to lift the confinement only when the curve of infections allows us to. That's the basic principle," Veran told reporters when communicating the recommendation by government advisors.

"As long as it (the confinement) should last, it lasts," he said.

On March 17, France was put into lockdown for at least 15 days. Only really necessary trips (going to work, taking care of health and family needs or buying necessities) are allowed. Some 100,000 police and gendarmes are mobilized countrywide to guarantee full respect of the rules.

Since Tuesday, the confinement measures have become stricter. People are allowed to go out for a walk with their children or to exercise once per day for no more than one hour, and within one kilometer of their home.