France should prepare for coronavirus situation "similar to Italy," infectious diseases specialist says

An infectious disease specialist has warned that France should brace itself for a coronavirus outbreak comparable to what Italy is currently facing. Authorities in Italy are struggling to contain the virus, which has infected more than 370 people and left 12 dead there. There are just 16 confirmed cases in France, but Professor of Infectious and Tropical Diseases at the Pitié-Salpêtrièr hospital in Paris, Eric Caumes says he expects the situation to worsen given the “many channels of transmission” already circulating in the population.
“Even if the severity is probably much weaker than we imagined, it probably transmits much better than we imagined,” he said, addressing the press alongside French President Emmanuel Macron, who was visiting Pitié-Salpêtrièr.
The hospital is where France’s first coronavirus patient, a 60-year-old man from the l’Oise region, died. He is one of two people to have died in the country.
Macron paid tribute to the hospital staff, saying the death “very much touched the team."
“I count on you and you can count on me so that we can work together and respond,” Macron told medical staff.