Eiffel Tower shutting down due to coronavirus

The Eiffel Tower is closing starting Friday as the coronavirus spreads across France.

“In the context of the COVID-19 outbreak and due to the government health measures announced today, the Eiffel Tower will be closed today from 9pm, for an indefinite period of time,” reads a statement on the landmark’s official website.

In the context of the #COVID19 outbreak and due to the government health measures announced today, the #EiffelTower closes today, from 9pm, for an indefinite period of time. pic.twitter.com/0BnTZgSN9g

— La tour Eiffel (@LaTourEiffel) March 13, 2020

Customers holding pre-purchased tour tickets will be refunded.

The announcement comes after the French government announced a ban on gatherings of more than 100 people and called for schools to close nationwide.

France is reporting more than 3,600 cases of coronavirus and 79 related deaths, as the disease continues to spread globally.

President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday called it the “biggest health crisis that France has known in a century.”

Macron spoke with President Trump on Friday and he said they agreed to organize an “extraordinary” videoconference on Monday with the leaders of the Group of Seven industrialized countries to address a response to the coronavirus.

“We will coordinate research efforts on a vaccine and treatments, and work on an economic and financial response,” he tweeted.

Following my call with @realDonaldTrump and all G7 leaders, we agreed to organize an extraordinary Leaders Summit by videoconference on Monday on Covid-19. We will coordinate research efforts on a vaccine and treatments, and work on an economic and financial response.

— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) March 13, 2020