On Monday, French President Emmanuel Macron spoke to his nation in a televised speech in which he said that progress had been made in the fight against the virus but that the battle was not yet won. Therefore, he extends the country's coronary restrictions to May 11. That's what Reuters reports.

- Over the next four weeks, the rules must be respected, says the French president.

Right now, the French are only allowed to leave their homes to buy food, get to work, seek care or exercise. The rules were introduced in the country on March 17.

Has reached the plateau

The number of cases of French people who have sought intensive care for problems due to coronary disease has begun to decline. Frank authorities now hope they have reached a plateau in the contagion curve.

"Thanks to your efforts, we make progress every day," he says in his address to the French, says Macron.

But hospitals continue to be severely strained and patients are diverted from the most affected areas by air and train.

Macron also said in his speech that all French people with covid-19 symptoms should be able to be tested for the disease before May 11. Then schools and preschools should also be open.

Almost 15,000 dead

According to the latest figures, almost 15,000 people have died as a result of a coronary infection in France. Right now it is among the five hardest hit countries in the world. More than 98,000 Frenchmen have been found infected.