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Asharq Al-Awsat
Asharq Al-Awsat
Lifestyle
London - Asharq Al-Awsat

Louvre Limits Number of Visitors amid Coronavirus Fears

A young couple of tourists with protective masks against coronavirus are walking on the Trocadero esplanade in front of the Eiffel Tower. Mehdi Taamallah | NurPhoto via Getty Images

The Louvre has said it was restricting entry to the world's most visited museum.

Only people who have already reserved a ticket online, or those who normally benefit from free entry, will be allowed into the Paris landmark, the Louvre said Monday.

According to AFP, the restriction comes after the vast museum was forced to close for two days last week when staff refused to work over health fears.

The Paris Philharmonie, the biggest classic music venue in the French capital, said it was cancelling all events in its main 2,400-seat auditorium until further notice, starting with Monday's concert by Greek-Russian conductor Teodor Currentzis.

As part of its efforts to curb the spread of the novel virus, the French government banned public gatherings of more than 1,000 people on Sunday.

Paris Saint-Germain was ordered to play Wednesday's home Champions League tie against German club Borussia Dortmund behind closed doors.

More than 9.6 million people visited the Louvre last year, most of them from abroad, with American and Chinese tourists the biggest groups.

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