France has reported more than 10,000 new coronavirus cases in the past 24 hours, its highest daily number since wide-scale testing was launched in the country.
The number rose to 10,561 new cases on Saturday, up from the previous day's 9,406 new cases, the French public health agency said.
Over the 24-hour period, 17 people died in hospital, bringing the country's total death toll to 30,910.
A total of 417 new patients were admitted to intensive care over the last week, including 28 on Saturday, the agency said.
French Prime Minister Jean Castex warned on Friday there was a "clear worsening" in the country's outbreak, and that a recent increase in COVID-19 hospitalisations was particularly worrying.
However he did not announce any major new restrictions, shortening the quarantine period for people who catch the virus to just seven days from 14.
"We have to succeed in living with this virus, without returning to the idea of a generalised lockdown," he said in a televised statement from his official residence in Paris.
Mr Castex himself ended a stint in isolation after twice testing negative for COVID-19.
Fears were briefly raised after he spent part of last weekend with the boss of the Tour de France Christian Prudhomme, who tested positive to the virus.
'Yellow vest' protesters return to Paris streets
France's 'yellow vest protesters clashed with police in Paris on Saturday, but the movement's hopes for a mass September comeback failed to materialise.
Protesters gathered for two separate marches in Paris, with police firing tear gas into a group that set off from Place du Wagram in the city's northwest after they left their planned route.
The protesters burnt dustbins and set fire to two vehicles.
Police also used tear gas at demonstrations at Lyon and Toulouse, but other marches passed off peacefully.
Yellow vest protesters escape tear gas fired by French police while wearing protective face masks as precaution against the conoravirus during a march in Paris. Source: AAP
Interior Minister Gerard Darmanin said some 8,500 people had rallied across the country, with 2,500 of them in Paris. He said most demonstrations had passed off peacefully.
This was significantly lower than police had anticipated.
The protest organisers normally dismiss the official figures, but some demonstrators at least felt that the low turn-out spelt the end of the movement.
"This is a kind of last stand," said Michael, a 43-year old protester in the crowd at Place de Wagram.
'Nothing's changed'
At the height of the movement's popularity in late 2018, tens of thousands rallied under the 'yellow vests' banner, denouncing what they said was President Emmanuel Macron's prioritisation of business and the rich over struggling ordinary families.
The demonstrations sometimes descended into violence and looting that drew harsh police responses, which were in turn criticised in France and beyond.
In Paris on Saturday, protesters at a second march starting from Place de la Bourse in the city centre brandished signs with modest demands like "being able to fill your fridge properly".
Elsewhere in France, several hundred 'yellow vest' protesters gathered in the southwestern city of Toulouse defying a ban authorities had imposed, citing coronavirus infection risks.
Tyres are burnt during a 'yellow vest' protest in central Paris. Source: AAP
Police there and in the southeast city of Lyon fired tear gas to disperse them.
Protesters also gathered in Bordeaux among other cities.
"I didn't back the yellow vests at first but things have only got worse for people in poverty," said a 53-year-old man calling himself Dodo, who attended the Toulouse protest.
"Nothing's changed after two years of struggle."
