French health authorities on Saturday confirmed 10,561 new Covid-19 cases in the past 24 hours, a new daily record as the number topped 10,000 for the first time.
Saturday’s record figure came after French Prime Minister Jean Castex warned on Friday that there has been a “clear worsening” in France of the spread of Covid-19, which has “not lowered in intensity” and “will still be with us for some months”.
A previous record of 9,843 new infections had been reported on Thursday.
Despite this resurgence in cases, Castex did not announce any major new restrictions, saying France’s aim is to “avoid a general lockdown” and succeed in living with the virus through social distancing, mask-wearing and ramped-up testing.
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Castex said his government would implement fast-tracked Covid-19 testing for priority cases and provide local authorities with the power to make some businesses reduce opening hours.
There is a “clear worsening” in France of the spread of Covid-19, which has “not lowered in intensity” and “will still be with us for some months”, Castex said in a televised statement in Paris.
But he did not announce any major new restrictions, saying France’s aim is to “avoid a general lockdown” and succeed in living with the virus through social distancing, mask-wearing and ramped-up testing.
AFP
