1. Restaurants, cafes, bars, and "non-essential" shops are closed. Pharmacies, fuel garages, banks, and food shops are still open. Food takeaways and home deliveries are allowed.

2. Limit as much as possible all social gatherings, including family meals and reunions.

3. Limit all trips, only to go to work and essential trips. Public transport remains open. Only go to work if you cannot work from home. Everyone is asked to stay home and only go out for food shopping and to take a little exercise.

4. People over 70 and those with chronic illnesses and respiratory issues should strictly stay at home. Do not visit elderly relatives, but call them. Do not take grandchildren to see grandparents.

5. Non-urgent hospital operations have been deferred.

6. Pharmacies are now authorised to dispense medicines to patients suffering from chronic disorders whose prescriptions have expired. They can dispense medicines in strict compliance with the dosage until May 31.

The French health director general Jérôme Salomon has emphasised that the virus cannot spread alone but only through people, and that everyone must take the official advice seriously and act responsibly.

This advice includes:

1. Keep a 1 metre distance between yourself and others.
2. Wash your hands with soap or hydro-alcoholic sanitiser gel frequently.
3. Cough or sneeze into your elbow rather than your hands.
4. Use single use tissues and dispose immediately after use.
5. Do not shake hands, or greet people with kisses on the cheek.
6. If you are sick, stay at home and wear a mask in the company of others.
7. If you believe you are sick, do not go to the hospital or visit your local doctor as you may infect others. Instead call your local doctor and take paracetamol for the fever. Do not take anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen or cortisone to treat the possible symptoms of Covid-19 as these could actually worsen the infection.

If you have returned from a high risk area [China (mainland China, Hong Kong, Macao), Singapore, South Korea, Iran or the Lombardy and Veneto regions of Italy, and present symptoms of respiratory infection such as fever, cough, difficulty breathing within 14 days of your return, call the SAMU emergency number, 15. Do not go to your local hospital or doctor.

A free hotline service can answer your questions about the coronavirus Covid-19 non-stop, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week: 0800 130 000. It cannot give medical advice.