
Audio By Carbonatix
The Louvre museum in Paris has remained shut amid concerns over France's coronavirus outbreak.
Staff at the Louvre - the most visited museum in world - voted "almost unanimously" not to open on Sunday, a union representative said.
On Saturday the French government banned all indoor gatherings of more than 5,000 people, in an effort to curb the spread of the new coronavirus.
France has reported 100 cases of the Covid-19 disease. Two people have died.
What happened at the Louvre on Sunday?
Queues formed outside the museum's iconic pyramid in the rain, but the doors remained shut.
A statement on the museum's website said a meeting was reviewing the "public health situation linked to Covid-19 prevention measures" announced by the government.
The previous day, an emergency cabinet meeting banned large gatherings "in confined spaces", as well as open-air events such as Sunday's Paris half-marathon.
Union official Christian Galani told AFP news agency: "The meeting was arranged to discuss the concerns of staff", adding management representatives were unable to convince workers to go to work.
"The Louvre is a confined space which welcomes more than 5,000 people a day," Mr Galani said. "There is real concern on the part of staff."
What other gatherings have recently been affected?
In France all public gatherings have been banned in parts of Oise, the area north of Paris at the centre France's coronavirus outbreak.
But the mayor of Montanaire, one of the towns affected by the ban, defied the move and allowed a market to go ahead on Sunday.
Cancelled events across France also include the final day of the Paris Agricultural Fair and a fireworks display in the southern city of Nice - both were due to be held on Sunday.
Switzerland has also banned large gatherings. The General Motor Show and the Basel Carnival are among the events affected.
In Italy, Europe's worst-affected country, five Serie A football matches are not being held this weekend.
In rugby, Ireland postponed men's and women's Six Nations games against Italy in Dublin next weekend.
And Qatar has cancelled the opening MotoGP race of the season, which was due to be held on 8 March, because of travel restrictions on visitors from Italy, a centre of the outbreak.
Latest Stories
-
Kwahu Business Forum 2026: Corporate citizenship, sustaining African businesses take centre stage with KGL as the case study
34 minutes -
Trump seeks $152m to reopen notorious Alcatraz prison
3 hours -
Ex-Chelsea player Oscar retires with heart issue
3 hours -
CA Foundation drives constitutional literacy in Kpone Katamanso municipality
3 hours -
GPRTU to hold talks with Transport Ministry over rising fuel costs
3 hours -
CUTS International urges gov’t to halt sachet water price hike pending cost review
3 hours -
Chief Justice: Efficient Judiciary essential to reducing business costs
3 hours -
Bayern grabs 99th-minute winner to cap superb fightback
3 hours -
Ahmed Ibrahim urges Ghanaians to reflect Easter values in nation-building
3 hours -
ECG inefficiencies undermining power supply -Mahama outlines reforms
3 hours -
Lewandowski scores as Barca fight back to defeat Atletico
3 hours -
Lack of private sector consultation undermining economic growth – Jerry Ahmed Shaib
3 hours -
Real Madrid seven points adrift after Muriqi’s late Mallorca winner
3 hours -
Ghana must lead AfCFTA implementation by example – Trade Minister Ofosu-Adjare
3 hours -
Strong Judiciary key to business confidence – Chief Justice Baffoe-Bonnie
3 hours