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MARSEILLE, France, Sept 25 (Reuters) - Hundreds of restaurant owners and bar staff protested outside Marseille’s commercial court on Friday against a government order to shut from Saturday to curb the surge in new coronavirus cases in France’s second biggest city.
The government ordered bars and restaurants in the city to close for two weeks after placing Marseille and its surrounds on the Mediterranean on the maximum alert level for the spread of the virus.
But Marseille residents and local officials say the move is disproportionate to the risks and will devastate the local economy.
“We’re in complete despair. When they shut us down, they humiliate us,” said restaurateur Bernard Marty.