French voters shun polls, enjoy sunshine despite coronavirus restrictions

Authorities said on Saturday that 91 people had died of the virus and more than 4,500 were infected, including 300 who were in intensive care.

Voting may not have appealed but warm spring sunshine did as people mingled in streets and parks in France on Sunday despite new government measures to curb the rapid spread of the coronavirus.

France was choosing mayors for 35,000 town halls and almost half a million councillors in an election that was overshadowed by the coronavirus outbreak and that went ahead even with the stringent steps announced the previous day.

By 1600 GMT turnout was at 38.7% nationally, down from 54.7% in local elections in 2014, confirming concerns that abstentions could eclipse the previous lowest turnout in 1971.

One voter, Pascale, 59, who