France Coronavirus Deaths Rise at Fastest Pace in Six Days

(Bloomberg) -- Deaths in France linked to the coronavirus rose at the fastest pace in six days on Tuesday, while the number of patients in intensive care fell the most in almost three weeks.

The number of deaths rose by 330 to 25,531, France’s public health agency said in an e-mailed statement. Reported cases increased by 1,406 to 204,659 infections.

Lockdown measures in France and neighboring Italy and Spain have started slowing the spread of the coronavirus in recent weeks. Governments across Europe are now looking to ease restrictions to limit economic damage, with France planning to reopen shops from May 11 as one of the first steps.

Patients in intensive care because of the virus, which health officials have cited as a key indicator of how the pandemic is impacting France’s hospital system, fell by 266 to 3,430, the lowest since April 15 and less than half of the peak on April 8. Hospitalizations fell by 773 patients to 24,775, the biggest drop since the number first declined on April 15.

France’s daily coronavirus figures have fluctuated amid inconsistent reporting from nursing homes, which were first included in the tally last month.

©2020 Bloomberg L.P.