7,000 new cases: Covid-19 in France spreading exponentially

"In metropolitan France, the dynamics of the epidemic's progression are exponential," health bodies la Direction générale de la santé and Santé Publique France stated in their daily virus update on Friday, August 28. 7,379 additional cases of Covid-19 were confirmed within the past 24 hours.

"Although remaining at limited levels, hospital indicators (new hospitalisations and intensive care admissions) are on the rise, particularly in regions where viral circulation is most intense,” the health authorities stated.

The new outbreak of the epidemic observed in recent weeks has led many cities, including Paris, Toulouse, Nice and Marseille, to make the wearing of masks compulsory in public spaces.

However, the growing number of cases has not yet resulted in a rapid increase in hospital admissions: 4,535 patients with Covid-19 were hospitalised on Friday, a figure unchanged from the previous day. 387 patients are in intensive care, six more than on Thursday but 23 less than on Tuesday.

The total number of deaths since the beginning of the epidemic has reached 30,596, of which 20,089 have occurred in hospitals (+19 in 24 hours), according to the two health bodies.

"We are doing everything to avoid reconfinement," President Emmanuel Macron told journalists on Friday, while not "totally" excluding it as a possibility.

Previously, Mr Macron has said that local ‘targeted’ reconfinements would be put in place if necessary, rather than another nationwide lockdown.

Read more about coronavirus:

Coronavirus: What do the latest updates mean for France?

What are France’s red zones and vulnerable departments?

20 French cities urged to prepare local plans for lockdown