PARIS (REUTERS) - France will close nurseries and schools for 15 days from Monday in the two areas most hit by coronavirus infections, one north of Paris and the other in the northeastern part of the country, its prime minister said on Friday (March 6).

Edouard Philippe stopped short during a press briefing of raising the emergency response to the virus to "Phase 3", the highest there is, but suggested it was only matter of time before the government would do so.