PARIS: One of France’s dearest touchy-feely customs is running up against the coronavirus.
Health Minister Olivier Veran urged his compatriots to avoid greeting each other with a cheek-to-cheek embrace and a kiss or several — known as “la bise” in French — to avoid spreading the infection.
Health Minister Olivier Veran urged his compatriots to avoid greeting each other with a cheek-to-cheek embrace and a kiss or several — known as “la bise” in French — to avoid spreading the infection.
He also renewed his official advice for people not to shake hands when they meet.
“The reduction in social contacts of a physical nature is advised,” Veran said at a news briefing on Saturday.
“That includes the practice of the bise.”
The French government also cancelled the Paris half-marathon on Sunday and banned indoor gatherings of more than 5,000 people.
Cases in France jumped to 100 on Saturday, almost double of the day before.
They include a cluster of 36 cases linked to a patient who died in the Oise region north of Paris, including 10 military and civilian personnel at the Creil air force base.
Other clusters include a group of 11 related to an organised trip to Egypt, Director General for Health Jerome Salomon told reporters.