According to figures published Wednesday by Public Health France, 284 new entries in intensive care were recorded in 24 hours.

More than 26,000 new cases of coronavirus have also been recorded. 

New admissions to intensive care units due to the coronavirus accelerated further on Wednesday, with 284 admissions in 24 hours, according to figures published by Public Health France.

The country now deplores more than 34,000 deaths from the disease, 34,048 to be exact, or 166 more than the day before, according to the health agency.

>> LIVE -

Coronavirus: follow the evolution of the situation Wednesday, October 21

The trend is worrying in hospitals, with 2,239 people in total in intensive care or intensive care, therefore in serious condition.

Ile-de-France alone accounts for 30% of these cases (672 patients), and Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes 16% (360 patients).

Before crossing the threshold of 2,000 people in intensive care on Monday, it was necessary to go back to May to find this figure.

But at the peak of the epidemic in April, more than 7,000 patients were hospitalized.

According to the Minister of Health Olivier Véran, France has a total of 5,800 intensive care beds.

The positivity rate (proportion of positive tests compared to tests carried out) continues to increase, to 13.7%, against only 4.5% at the beginning of September and 7.6% at the beginning of October.

The number of new cases in 24 hours stood at 26,676, against just over 20,000 the day before.

New curfews should be introduced

Jean Castex will announce Thursday that a "number of departments will switch to maximum alert" in the face of the progression of the epidemic.

CORONAVIRUS ESSENTIALS

> "I wanted to vomit": the suffering of these masked women forced to give birth

> When are we in contact?

And other questions that we ask ourselves every day

> Coronavirus: from what age should you have your child tested?

> Coronavirus: the 5 mistakes not to make with your mask

> Does wearing a mask promote bad breath?

Several new metropolises should therefore be affected by a curfew, six days after the one established between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. in eight large cities as well as Paris and Ile-de-France.