Macron warns Covid-19 could last months in France

Mr Macron said: “We must all be aware that we will be working in the long-term...We are ready. We will continue to stand together; we owe it to our country.

“We have entered a stage that will last for weeks, and doubtless even months. We must have clarity, resilience, keep our cool, and have determination to firstly slow down the epidemic - which we are currently doing - and then fight against it.”

He then commended the “absolutely decisive...action across the entire country”, and thanked healthcare staff for their “remarkable work”.

The President was speaking during a visit to urgent healthcare response centre by the ministry of health, le Centre Opérationnel de Régulation et de Réponse aux Urgences Sanitaires et Sociales (CORRUSS).

He later held a video meeting with several directors of regional health agencies, les Agences Régionales de Santé (ARS), and hospital directors.

A councillor from the Elysée said it was “too early” to tell if France would pass into the “third [epidemic] stage” of the virus. He said: “The President will make a decision based on scientific proof.”