France's new daily Covid-19 infections remained above the record 18,000 threshold for a second day, while the number of people treated in hospital for the disease was up, Reuters reported.
The figures were published shortly before Health Minister Olivier Veran holds a news conference during which he is likely to announce new restrictions to contain the disease.
Hospitals in the Paris region have moved into emergency mode, cancelling staff holidays and postponing non-essential operations, as coronavirus patients made up close to half of all patients in intensive care units (ICUs).
