France Coronavirus Deaths Rise by Most in Nearly Two Weeks

(Bloomberg) -- France reported the most deaths linked to the coronavirus in nearly two weeks on Tuesday, while hospitalizations and the number of patients in intensive care continued to decline.

The number of fatalities rose by 348 to 26,991, France’s Health Ministry said in an e-mailed statement. That is the highest daily figure since April 29. People hospitalized because of the virus fell by 689 to 21,595, the fewest since the end of March.

France has started easing lockdown measures that have helped slow the coronavirus outbreak, with stores including some department stores and garden centers reopening after almost eight weeks. Health authorities said the epidemic is still active and efforts to slow down the virus spread must continue.

“We’re progressively resuming our activity but we need to do so very prudently,” the ministry said.

Patients in intensive care because of the virus, which health officials have cited as a key indicator, fell by 170 to 2,542, the lowest since March 24. The latest figures show the total number of cases in France rose by 1,044 to 213,662, according to the Sante Publique website.

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