As the French government continues to insist that another lockdown is not under consideration, cases continue to rise, with 1,377 new diagnoses made in the last 24 hours, The Guardian reports.
16 people died in the same period, taking the country’s death toll since the outbreak of the epidemic to 30,254 people.
The increase cannot be attributed to a rise in the number of tests performed; 27% more tests are being conducted, but the number of positive results has increased by 54%.
More than half of those tested positive showed no symptoms. The number of those hospitalized has increased, but the figures for those requiring intensive care are so far remaining stable.
Also, Spain said its daily rise in cases was the highest since its lockdown was lifted in June.
French health authorities reported 1,377 additional confirmed cases of coronavirus on Thursday, one day after identifying 21 new clusters, bringing the total to 147.
Spain reported 1,229 new coronavirus infections on Thursday, topping 1,000 for the second day in a row. It also marked the biggest rise since its lockdown was eased on 21 June.
Amid resurgences of the virus across Europe and Asia, the French health minister, Olivier Véran, insisted the country was not in the grip of a second wave but urged people to maintain distancing and protection measures.
Several French cities announced new face mask requirements and other measures on Thursday to contain the virus. Authorities in Saint-Malo in Brittany, a popular tourist destination, said masks were mandatory inside its walled old city and on the ramparts for everyone aged 11 and above.
Warning that shutting the country again would be a “catastrophic” economic and social event, the French prime minister, Jean Castex, said at the weekend another full lockdown must be “avoided above all”.
Source: The Guardian via Arutz Sheva