France’s average daily new COVID-19 infections near three-month high

Visitors wear protective face masks at Disneyland Paris as the theme park reopens its doors to the public in Marne-la-Vallee, near Paris, following the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in France, June 17, 2021. REUTERS

PARIS — French health authorities reported
5,266 daily new COVID-19 infections on Monday, pushing the
seven-day moving average of new cases to an almost three-month
high.

That average – which smoothes out daily reporting
irregularities – rose to 18,479, a level unseen since Aug. 27,
from a three-month low of 4,172 on Oct. 10.

It had set a 2021 record of 42,225 in mid-April before
falling to a 2021 low of 1,816 at the end of June.

French government spokesperson Gabriel Attal said on Sunday
the current wave of the pandemic was “rampant.”

Unlike some of its European peers, France has yet to
announce a new batch of restrictive measure to contain the
disease, with some experts saying the ongoing wave could hit its
climax in the country around Christmas.

The cumulative total of new cases now stands at 7.42
million.

In another sign the virus’ spread is speeding up again, the
number of people treated in intensive care units for COVID-19
went up by 67 over 24 hours to 1,409, going 1,400 for the first
time since Sept. 30.

The total number of patients hospitalized for the disease
increased by 300 versus Sunday to 8,338, the highest daily rise
since Aug. 23.

France also registered 97 new daily deaths from the epidemic
– the highest figure since Sept. 21 – taking the total to
118,540. The seven-day moving average of new fatalities reached
an almost two-month high of 49.