Paris (AFP)
More than 3,000 new cases of Covid-19 have been recorded in France in the past 24 hours, while a strengthening of measures has been decided in Marseille (south), the second city of the country.
In total, 3,304 new positive diagnoses were identified, against 1,955 on Monday, according to figures released Tuesday by Public Health France.
The threshold of 4,000 has already been crossed in recent days. In 24 hours, 33 new foci of grouped cases (clusters) were detected, also indicated Public Health France.
The regional authorities of Provence-Alpes-Côte-d'Azur (south) announced in the evening a strengthening of the measures, with the obligation to wear a mask throughout Marseille and the closure of bars and restaurants at 11:00 p.m. (9:00 p.m. GMT) throughout the Bouches-du-Rhône department.
These measures, which will come into effect on Wednesday at 9:00 p.m. GMT, were decided in the face of the sharp acceleration of the coronavirus epidemic, with an incidence rate of 177 per 100,000 in France's second city and 131 out of 100,000 for the department, against about 33 per 100,000 national average, according to figures provided by the regional prefecture.
In total, 4,600 people are hospitalized in France for a Covid-19 infection, a figure that is down very slightly (4,690 on Monday).
The number of patients in intensive care (410) shows a slight increase compared to Monday (399).
Sixteen additional deaths were recorded in 24 hours in the country, bringing the number of deaths since the start of the epidemic in France to 30,544 people, including 20,038 in hospitals.
© 2020 AFP