On Mar. 7, amidst the spread of the coronavirus (Covid-19) in the country, 3,549 people gathered in Landerneau, France, for an important purpose.
Dressing up as Smurfs.
Setting a world record for Smurfs
Both AFP and The Slate reported that the aim of the event was to break the world record of the most number of people dressed as Smurfs.
The previous world record was set in Feb. 2019, in Germany, with 2,762 people dressed as Smurfs.
The current gathering came just one day before France implemented a ban on gatherings of more than 1,000 people across the country on Mar. 8.
Regarding concerns over Covid-19, two individuals interviewed by AFP had this to say:
"It(the gathering) was more important, the coronavirus is no big deal, it's nothing.
There's no risk -- we're Smurfs! Yes, we're going to Smurferise the coronavirus!"
How many cases of Covid-19 does France have?
Currently, France has 1,412 confirmed cases of the coronavirus (Covid-19) and 25 deaths.
Although gatherings of more than 1,000 people have been banned, some events which are considered “useful to national life” will still be allowed to continue, such as protests.
Some French politicians have also contracted the virus
In the meantime, several French politicians have also contracted the virus, including five cases in the National Assembly, the lower house of France's parliament, and the country's culture minister, Franck Riester, France24 reported.
Reuters reported that Riester had decided to test himself for the virus after finding out that he had been in contact with infected people during a visit to the French parliament.
Sources in the French culture ministry added that he could have caught the virus from one of the five cases in the National Assembly.
France's Health Minister, Olivier Véran, added that Riester is currently resting at home and is "doing well."
Top photo by DAMIEN MEYER/AFP via Getty Images