FILE PHOTO: French Health Minister Olivier Veran gives a news briefing after a defence council with President Emmanuel Macron at the Elysee palace in Paris, France , March 8, 2020. REUTERS/Pascal Rossignol/Pool

PARIS (Reuters) - France could hope to start seeing a slowdown of coronavirus infections in about eight to 12 days following the government’s decision to lock down the country, health minister Olivier Veran said on Wednesday.

“We will intervene where necessary to make sure people respect the confinement. When I look outside my window, I see that gradually people are getting the message,” Veran told LCI TV.