France will close all schools and universities across the country in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

President Emmanuel Macron announced the new measures in a live television interview from the Elysée Palace in Paris earlier this evening.

The head of state described the spread of the virus as the 'greatest health crisis France has known for a century' and said that all schools, colleges and universities will close from Monday 'until further notice'.

President Emmanuel Macron announced the new measures in a live television interview from the Elysée Palace in Paris earlier this evening

He said: 'Despite our efforts, the virus is accelerating.

'It will hit the most vulnerable people first and we are taking great efforts to increase massively the capacity in our hospitals.

'We have to prepare for the second wave, which will hit younger people. We have to prepare our emergency staff.

'We need to win time but the priority is to protect the most vulnerable.

'For our collective interest, from Monday and until further notice, nurseries, schools, colleges, high schools and universities will be closed.

'Closed for a simple reason: our children and our youngest, according to scientists, are the ones who seem to spread the virus the fastest.'

It is believed to be the first time that the entire education system in France has been shut in response to a national emergency.

President Emmanuel Macron addressed the nation during a television interview this evening where he announced the new measures (stock image)

The French President also warned that he may even be forced to shut the country's borders, adding that 'if necessary, we will close frontiers but only in co-ordination with the EU.'

But in a veiled reference to US President Donald Trump's decision to suspend some travel to the United States, Macron said nationalism was not the answer to the virus.

He said the disease has no nationality, and that if national frontiers had to be closed, it would only be when it was essential.

Mr Macron pledged to 'massively increase' the capacity of hospitals and called on people over the age of 70 to avoid contact with others as much as possible.

He asked businesses to allow employees to work from home and said that where necessary the state would take on their salaries in order to ease the economic impact.

He added: 'Even if employees have to stay at home, they will be paid.

'We will take all necessary measures to ensure the economy will continue. All companies can delay payment of taxes, due in March, without any penalty.'

Mr Macron said that public transport would remain open and that the municipal elections will still go ahead on Sunday despite concerns about voter turnout.

The leader pledged to 'massively increase' the capacity of hospitals. Pictured: New coronavirus screening unit of the CHU-Pellegrin University Hospital in Bordeaux, France, today

The announcement comes after the French Football Federation suspended all matches until further notice.

France has so far seen 2,284 cases and 48 deaths of the COVID-19 outbreak.

The country previously announced a nationwide ban on gatherings of more than 1,000 people.

French authorities previously requisitioned all surgical masks for distribution to those who needed them with the government even capping the price of hand sanitizer.

The Paris Marathon and a Six Nations rugby match against Ireland have both been postponed until October.

'The government has placed additional restrictions on four zones with clusters of coronavirus cases: Morbihan in Brittany, Haute-Savoie in eastern France near the Swiss border and the départements of Oise and Haut-Rhin in north east France.

'In these places there is a ban on all public gatherings including markets, community groups and church services,' according to The Local France.