18 March 2020 – Asked people to stay home

Intervention Categories: Social and physical distancing measures; Domestic travel
Level of Jurisdiction: National

Overview: The French Government asked that people stay home for the next fifteen days in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The announcement said staying home is the most effective way to “put the breaks” on the spread of the virus and urged people not to go out except for necessary errands.

A few days before the lock down was announced, the Government had also declared that the country had entered Stage 3 of its pandemic response due to the number of people infected with the virus.
Full details here: https://www.gouvernement.fr/conseil-des-ministres/2020-03-18/le-covid-19