Paris (AFP)

More than 4,500 new cases of Covid-19 have been recorded in France in the past 24 hours, according to figures released on Sunday by Santé Publique France.

A total of 4,897 new positive diagnoses were recorded, against 3,602 on Saturday.

The percentage of positive tests continues to increase slightly, to 3.6% (3.5% on Saturday). 32 new foci of grouped cases (clusters) were detected, also indicated Public Health France.

In total, 4,709 people are hospitalized for a Covid-19 infection, a figure down slightly (4,711 Saturday, 4,745 Friday).

The number of patients in intensive care (383) is up slightly compared to Saturday (380) and an additional death has been recorded, bringing the number of deaths since the start of the epidemic in France to 30,513 people, including 20,002 within hospitals and 10,511 in social and medico-social establishments (a figure which dates from Tuesday and will be updated on August 25).

Seven departments are now classified in high vulnerability level: Bouches-du-Rhône, Guyana, Hérault, Paris, Sarthe, Seine-Saint-Denis and Val-de-Marne.

The Loiret, which had been classified "high" on Saturday, has fallen to a level of "moderate" vulnerability, bringing the number of departments at this stage to 31.

© 2020 AFP