The toll of the coronavirus epidemic in France was up again on Tuesday 12 May with 348 new deaths in 24 hours, but the number of heavy patients in intensive care continues to drop, according to the Directorate General of Health.

The new deaths announced on Tuesday were recorded in hospitals, with 183 additional deaths, and in medico-social establishments and Ehpad, with 165 additional deaths.

The death toll was also up on Monday with 263 deaths reported. These figures contrast sharply with those advanced over the weekend for Ehpad - four deaths recorded Saturday and only one Sunday -, suggesting a possible catching up of accounting in these establishments.

In total, since March 1, at least 26,991 deaths have been recorded, including 17,003 in hospitals and 9,988 in nursing homes and other medico-social establishments, announced Tuesday the Ministry of Health.

The number of people in intensive care still falling

Pressure on emergency services continues to decrease, with 2,542 patients, 170 less than the previous day. At the height of the epidemic, on April 8, resuscitation services received 7,148 serious cases.

The number of people currently hospitalized for Covid-19 infection stands at 21,595, compared to 24,775 a week ago, said the Directorate General of Health in a press release.

As for the number of confirmed cases of contamination, it reached 140,227, or 708 new cases in the space of 24 hours.

Since the start of the epidemic, almost 97,000 people (96,979) have been hospitalized, 57,785 of whom have been able to return to their homes.

With AFP

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