Covid-19: 7,560 deaths in France

This is a drop on yesterday’s figure which set a record at 588 deaths in the preceding 24 hours.

The total number of hospital deaths in France since the beginning of the epidemic is now 5,532.

In retirement homes and other medicalised institutions which were not counted in the figures before last Thursday, the number of deaths has been given as 2,028, bringing the total number of deaths in France to 7,560.

Health service director Jérôme Salomon said 28,143 people were currently hospitalised, 711 more than yesterday. Of hospitalised patients, 6,838 are in intensive care, an increase of 176 people in 24 hours. Friday's figures gave 263 people admitted to intensive care in the preceding 24 hours.

Of the patients in intensive care, 35% are aged under 60, 60% are between 60 and 80 years of age and 105 people are under 30.

"The number of people who have recovered is increasing," Mr Solomon said. 15,438 people have been released from hospital, to which, he said, must be added the "tens of thousands of people who have remained confined to their homes and have recovered independently as this epidemic evolves."