PARIS (Reuters) – French voters headed to the polls on Sunday for local elections after the government decided to press ahead with the vote despite a rapid acceleration of the coronavirus across the country.
Nuns show their identifications during the first round of mayoral elections, as France grapples with an outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) spread, in Paris, France March 15, 2020. REUTERS/Clotaire Achi
Voters are set to choose mayors for 35,000 town halls and almost half a million councillors in a vote overshadowed by the coronavirus outbreak.
Prime Minister Edouard Philippe on Saturday evening ordered the shutdown of most shops, restaurants and entertainment facilities from midnight and urged people to stay at home after the number of coronavirus cases doubled in 72 hours.
However, Philippe confirmed that the election would proceed under strict health guidelines with people asked to keep their distance from one another.
“I am going to vote and keep living my life no matter what. I am not scared of the virus,”