French voters braved the virtual lockdown of the country to cast ballots in Europe's biggest public polls since it became the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak.
The country's municipal elections witnessed record-low turnout as virus concerns prevented millions of voters out of polling stations, sparking calls to postpone the second round as authorities try to contain the outbreak.
Several right- and left-wing political figures have called for a postponement of the second round. The vote on Sunday came only as a dramatic new law came into effect closing down all the restaurants, museums and most shops in France to curb the spreading coronavirus that appeared in China last year.
In France the number of confirmed cases has doubled to over 4,500 in a 72-hour span and schools have already been ordered closed and travel restricted.
Around 15 people were lined up in the central eleventh district of Paris to vote at around 10 a.m. local time. Not all adhered to the one-meter protection distance as indicated by markings on the pavement.
The abstention rate was calculated by election committees at 54 to 56 percent, almost 20 points above the previous record registered in municipal votes six years ago.
Prime Minister Edouard Philippe, who was also gunning for mayor of Le Havre's port area of Normandy, stated he would be consulting with health experts as to whether the second round would be held next Sunday.
According to predictions from polling institutes based on partial data, Philippe, who runs for mayor in his hometown of Le Havre, appeared to lead in the first round, which also placed the mayor of Paris, Socialist Anne Hidalgo, ahead.
The increase in global cases has led governments to impose wider public life limits that are a threat to the regular functioning of democracy.
In the US, Georgia and Louisiana states postponed primary presidential voting, and Democrat candidates Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders were forced to postpone public campaign activities. The UK local elections were postponed Friday, including polls in the London mayoral race.
By comparison, the southern German state of Bavaria is still going ahead with regional elections on Sunday, although a large proportion of votes - in some cases slightly more than 50 percent - have been cast.
On Sunday, French authorities also announced long-distance trains and international flights will be restricted and public transport reduced.
The clampdown had already forced candidates to scrap or cut their post-election activities or media briefings, telling supporters to stay home as part of government orders.
