France has recorded its highest daily surge in new coronavirus infections in more than two months, reporting 1695 cases on Wednesday.
The 1,222 daily average of cases seen since the beginning of August is now almost three times higher than June's 435 figure but still half April's 2,585, when the pandemic was in full swing.
France's main seaside resorts have made wearing masks in the streets mandatory and some have restricted access to the beaches in the wake of the uptick in new cases.
Paris authorities are expected to announce shortly that people will have to wear face masks along the banks of the Seine and around the trendy Canal Saint-Martin, as well as in some of the capital's other tourist hot spots.
People wearing face masks at the beach in Biarritz, southwestern France. Source: AP
However, after creeping up over the past two days, the number of patients in intensive care units in French hospitals for COVID-19 went down by four, to 384.
The number of people in ICUs for the virus peaked at 7,148 on April 8 and overall hospitalisations at 32,292 on April 14.
And the overall number of people hospitalised with the disease fell by 14 to 5,148, following a downward trend of two and a half months and suggesting the spike in cases has not yet translated into renewed strain on the health system.
People walk next to the Eiffel Tower in Paris. Source: AP
French health authorities reported nine additional deaths from the disease, bringing the total to 30,305, the seventh-highest in the world.
The number of confirmed cases stands at 194,029.
People in Australia must stay at least 1.5 metres away from others. Check your state’s restrictions on gathering limits.
If you are experiencing cold or flu symptoms, stay home and arrange a test by calling your doctor or contact the Coronavirus Health Information Hotline on 1800 020 080. News and information is available in 63 languages at
