Alarms France, 16 thousand new cases from coronavirus

According to foreign media, the total number of affected people in the country increased to 536 thousand, while so far 31 thousand lives have changed.

French President Emmanuel Macron's cabinet announced on Wednesday a series of new measures to slow the spread of coronavirus, including the closure of all bars and restaurants in Marseille.

Meanwhile, European health officials urged member states in Brussels on Thursday to take steps to control the spread of coronavirus in their countries to prevent the return of isolation measures, which they considered devastating to the economy.

As the cold weather approaches, they said, it is necessary to avoid a flu epidemic at the same time as coronavirus.

Warnings come as most of Europe is seeing an increase in cases with COVID-19 and a new round of restrictive measures aimed at halting or at at at at at slowing the spread of infection.