Paris (AFP)

France is preparing for an extension of the confinement, which enters its 24th day on Thursday, while the human toll of the coronavirus epidemic continues to worsen with nearly 11,000 deaths and precipitates the economy into a historic recession.

Already extended once until April 15, confinement will continue beyond this date, warned the Elysee Wednesday evening, without specifying the duration of the new extension.

This will be one of the subjects of an address by Emmanuel Macron Monday evening to the French, to present his decisions concerning the fight against the epidemic during the coming weeks, according to the Presidency of the Republic.

Similar restrictions will also apply from the Easter weekend in Alsace, one of the regions most affected by the epidemic. Spring school holidays start there Thursday evening for two weeks.

"Save lives, avoid human tragedies, please stay at home!", Director General of Health Jérôme Salomon repeated on Wednesday.

France recorded on Wednesday a new very heavy daily toll in hospitals, with 541 additional deaths in 24 hours, a total of 7,632 since early March. In addition, 3,237 deaths have already been recorded in nursing homes and medico-social establishments (which could not update their statistics on Wednesday due to a "technical problem"), for a total of 10,869 deaths.

In hospitals, 7,148 seriously ill patients are in intensive care, "an absolute record in France", a sign that the epidemic "is still very active", noted the Director General of Health, Jérôme Salomon.

"It is an exceptional situation that is lastingly in time," reaffirmed No. 2 of the Ministry of Health.

- Masks, clinical trials -

The head of state is also expected to address the economic and social situation on Monday. The epidemic, which has shut down a good part of the country's activities, has already precipitated France into a historic recession.

The Banque de France estimated on Wednesday that the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) had collapsed by 6% during the period from January to March, the worst quarterly performance since 1945.

"The impact will be considerable, it is still far too early to assess it" totally, Prime Minister Edouard Philippe warned the Senate on Wednesday.

Faced with this unprecedented crisis, the State stands ready to replenish the capital of Air France and Renault, said for his part the Minister of Economy, Bruno Le Maire, while the Paris Stock Exchange finished the balanced day, after two days of strong growth.

On the research front, clinical trials are continuing. For the Discovery trial, which covers four possible treatments, the first trends are not expected before the end of April, according to its promoters.

"It is a disease that is much more complicated than previously thought, which affects organs, the nervous system, coagulation, the heart," said Gilles Pialoux, department head of the infectious diseases unit and tropicales from Tenon hospital, on BFMTV and RMC.

France is also continuing its efforts to obtain masks, coveted by the whole planet, where the epidemic has killed more than 82,700 people.

"Safe orders" now reach 1.6 billion units, according to the Minister of Health, Olivier Véran. After being suspended due to the tightening of health controls, the airlift with China to transport medical equipment and masks resumes via Seoul.

While the government maintains for the time being its recommendation to reserve the use of masks for caregivers and infected people, the association of mayors of France in turn recommends the wearing of handmade masks.

The government, which continues to prepare for the aftermath, is also working on the development of a smartphone application, which can be used "on a voluntary basis" to identify people who have been in contact with another infected with the coronavirus.

© 2020 AFP