LOC23:20
20:20 GMT
PARIS, Feb 28 (KUNA)--French authorities on Friday reported another sharp increase in the number of New Coronavirus cases, which have now risen to 57, a hike of 19 compared with Thursday's number.
French Health Minister Olivier Veran said in a news conference that stronger measures must now be taken to stop the spread of the virus, which has killed two people here.
"A new stage has been reached," he told reporters, noting France is now at "Stage 2" and he ordered the closing of schools in some areas most affected.
Certain schools will be closed for three days next week, and other closures will be ordered at the discretion of school principals, the Minister noted.
He said there were several clusters for the Coronavirus cases here, six were located in the southeastern resort area of Annecy; six others were reported in a tourist group returning from Egypt and 18 were found in the Oise region, north of Paris.
A number of other cases were isolated and not relevant to any clusters, Veran indicated. (end)
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