PARIS (Reuters) – The number of new coronavirus infections in France increased to 1,392 on Wednesday, the highest count in a month and a figure that is likely to fuel fears of a momentary wave of the disease even though the authorities minimize that scenario.
This accumulation raised the total number of cases shown in France to 185,196. In a statement, the fitness government said that, in addition to the continued decline in the number of other people in the extensive care units, all signs of COVID-19 showed “an increase in viral circulation.”
The reproduction rate, which has been emerging since the beginning of the month, is now “above 1.3,” which marks a 24-hour increase, they said.
The number of new cases, the highest since the 1,588 total of 26 June, is higher than last week’s average of 980 and almost double the average of 715 observed in May, when France began to lift its lockout.
Hours earlier, French health minister Olivier Veran suggested that the country not let its guard down to oppose the disease, but said it “does not face a momentary wave.”
There were also 15 new disease-like deaths, bringing the total to 30,238, more than the cumulative average of nine last week.
France has the seventh number of deaths in the world.
(Report through Benoit Van Overstraeten; edited through Franklin Paul and Jan Harvey)
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