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Paris Live, Thursday 19 March, 2020

By RFI
France  REUTERS - STEPHANE MAHE
MAR 19, 2020 LISTEN
© REUTERS - STEPHANE MAHE

In today's edition of Paris Live, we begin with an overview of the coronavirus situation in France, where the death toll has jumped up to 264 deaths, compared to 175 on Tuesday. Now into the third day of lockdown, the country's lawmakers are considering a national health emergency law which would increase executive powers to tackle the virus.

We hear from a pharmacist in Paris who describes the wave of panic buying he experienced in the days leading up to the lockdown and his advice to shoppers to take the confinement seriously.

We get an update on the situation from our correspondents in India, and Sierra Leone, which have also begun putting in place measures against the spread of the virus.

We'll also hear how the virus is impacting the sporting world and upending the calendar of international events such as tennis tournaments.

And finally, a breath of fresh air and musical inspiration as we travel with Anne-Marie Bissada to discover the origins of the oriental lute, known as the oud.

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