French government to extend lockdown if necessary - interior minister

PARIS, March 19 (Reuters) - France's 15-day lockdown ordered by President Emmanuel Macron to curb the coronavirus epidemic could be extended if necessary, Interior Minister Christophe Castaner said on Thursday.

"The 15-day period may be extended. If necessary, the government will re-conduct it," Castaner told Europe 1 radio station.

Since Wednesday morning, the police deployed to enforce the lockdown has carried out 70,000 controls and handed out 4,095 tickets to those flouting the lockdown, Castaner added.

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)