PARIS — French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday announced a nationwide lockdown for at least 15 days starting Tuesday at noon, as France steps up its efforts to curb the spread of coronavirus.

"We are at war," Macron said multiple times during a 20-minute televised speech.

While calling on the French people to "keep calm," he ordered extraordinary measures never before taken during peacetime.

People will only be allowed to leave their homes for necessary outings.

"As of tomorrow at noon, and for 15 days at least, our movements will be severely reduced," Macron said. "Across the French territory, only necessary outings like buying groceries, while respecting guidelines … necessary outings to seek medical care, necessary outings to go to work when working remotely is not possible and necessary outings to do a little bit of physical activity but without meeting up with friends or family.”

Paying visits to family or meeting up with friends will be banned.

"All infractions will be punished," Macron said. "There will be checks and controls in place."

Macron also announced the postponement of the second round of local elections that was meant to be held next Sunday, as well as the suspension of all reforms underway, "starting with pension reform," so that all government resources can be allocated to curbing the coronavirus outbreak.

The military will also be deployed to set up a hospital in Alsace in the east of France, one of the most affected areas, and to transport patients in heavily affected areas to hospitals elsewhere.

Macron also announced the closing of the EU's external borders as of Tuesday noon for non-EU citizens.

Extraordinary economic measures will also be put in place to help support businesses and avoid bankruptcies. A solidarity fund will be set up to help small businesses and shopkeepers. Special daycare will be provided for the children of health care workers, who will also have access to taxis and hotels if needed, at the government's expense.

As millions of French citizens now face what Macron called "life in slow-motion," he called on them to spend the time "reading, reflecting on what is essential" and said the nation would "prevail."

Throughout the day Macron met with his crisis management teams, President of the National Assembly Richard Ferrand and President of the Senate Gérard Larcher, as well as his two predecessors, François Hollande and Nicolas Sarkozy, to consult them before making his announcements.

Earlier Monday, POLITICO was shown an affidavit to allow "free movement" issued in the name of an employee in one of the essential departments of the French administration, in anticipation of possible severe restrictions on movement in the streets.

Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire met with business stakeholders Monday morning, and will be on French media Tuesday morning to provide detail on the measures.

On Saturday evening, Prime Minister Edouard Philippe called on French citizens to limit their movements as much as possible and ordered the closure of all non-essential businesses including restaurants, cafés, cinemas and theaters. Nevertheless, thousands still spent time in Parisian parks and food markets on Sunday, ignoring guidelines.

"The situation is deteriorating very quickly, the number of cases is doubling every three days," said Director General of Health Jérôme Salomon on French radio Monday morning. "A lot of people did not understand that they must stay home, this low rate of respecting the guidelines is preventing us from curbing the epidemic."

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