Polls open in France for local elections despite coronavirus

A voter prepares to cast her ballot at a polling station in Lille, northern France, March 15, 2020. Polling stations are open across France on Sunday for the first round of municipal elections after additional measures were recently imposed to curb the spread of the coronavirus. The stations are expected to follow sanitary guidelines recommended by the government and health experts, reported French media, including the regular cleaning of door handles, tables and voting booths. Other measures include avoiding queues, enforcing a safe distance between voters and ensuring priority for the elderly and frail groups. (Xinhua)