France reported 7,379 new confirmed coronavirus cases on Friday, a new post-lockdown record following the 6,111 record reported on Thursday and just shy of the 7,578 high set on March 31 at the peak of its initial wave.
Metropolitan France is now seeing an "exponential progression of the virus transmission", the health ministry said in a weekly review of the coronavirus situation.
The total number of confirmed cases rose to 267,077, while the cumulative number of deaths from COVID-19 rose by 20 to 30,596, the health ministry reported.
Despite the rapid rise in the infection rate, the hospital numbers were relatively stable, as the virus is mainly spreading among young people who show relatively few symptoms, the ministry said.
The cumulative death toll rose by 20 to 30,596 while the number of people in hospital with COVID-19 was unchanged at 4,535 and the number of people in intensive care rose by six to 387.
'Avoid another lockdown'
French President Emmanuel Macron said on Friday his government was doing everything possible to avoid another nationwide coronavirus lockdown but added it would be dangerous to rule out any scenario.
"We're doing everything to avoid another lockdown and in particular a nationwide lockdown," Macron told journalists. "We've learned enough to know that nothing can be ruled out. But we're doing everything to prevent it."
The number of coronavirus infections has spiralled higher in France in recent weeks, particularly among young people, although the number of patients receiving life-saving treatment in hospitals is stable.
Asked how the government should spur households to spend the 100 billion euros in savings they are sitting on, Macron said consumers were holding back because of the continued spread of the virus, fear of unemployment and concerns about tax rises.
"What we must do is get people back to work," the president said.
(FRANCE 24 with REUTERS)
