Eiffel Tower says 'Merci', 'thank you' to health workers fighting Coronavirus

Health workers racing to save lives as France contends with one of world's worst coronavirus outbreaks have received a huge show of gratitude with help of Eiffel Tower.

Paris landmark also h a mess for broer French public: Stay home.

Lights spelled out “Merci," French for ‘Thank you,” and “Stay at home" in English on Friday night along with tower's famous sparkling illuminations.

display of solidarity that started at 8 p.m. (1900 GMT) coincided with moment when citizens in lockdown across France have been cheering and applauding from ir windows and balconies in support of doctors and nurses.

Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo said light show will take place every evening on 324-meter-tall tower.

French hospitals recorded nearly 2,000 virus-related deaths as of Friday, a figure that doesn’t include COVID-19 cases elsewhere. Health workers are straining to treat an ever-increasing number of patients, including nearly 3,800 in intensive care.

For most people, coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older ults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, and death.

In neighbouring Switzerland, authorities also are lighting up one of nation’s landmarks, Matterhorn.

Nightly from sundown until 11 p.m., light artist Gerry Hofstetter is splashing Alpine peak with words and ims of encourment and inspiration.

Ims on sw-capped summit have shown a heart, Swiss flag, “Hope” and "#stayhome."