Macro: The EU borders will be closed in 30 days, starting tomorrow.

All trips between non-European and EU countries and the Schengen zone will be suspended for 30 days,”, he said in a televised address to the nation.

The French on vacation will be able to return to France, and those living abroad are told to contact embassies and consulates who will help them become repatriated.

Brussels had announced earlier Monday that it had proposed closing the EU borders to prevent the spread of the Coronavirus, but said a decision would not be made until the next day.

The French president also announced great support for businesses, including the non-paying of taxes and bills, so no single French person will remain without resources”.

Macron warned the French people that the “movements will be greatly reduced” for 15 days, until he criticised them for disrespecting previous measures, which were undertaken to reduce the spread of the coronary.

He said that people will no longer be able to take the family to residents and “meet your friends in the park, the road will no longer be possible”.

He said if someone did not respect the rules of staying at home “sanctions would be set”, but did not specify what they would be.

Going further than any other government to protect his country's economy, the president said: “there is no single company, regardless of its size, default, and no single French person will remain without resources. ”

The state will secure 300 billion euros (329bn) in loans to companies and is seeking to give up tax payments, he said.

For small companies, he said they would have nothing to pay fiscally, with gas payments, electricity and pending rents.