French health authorities have reported 3,093 new coronavirus infections over the past 24 hours, sharply down from the 20,000+ figure recorded over the two days before Christmas Day (Dec 25)

But the number of people hospitalised for the disease increased by 85, at 24,477, the first increase in six days, Reuters reported.

France will launch its vaccination campaign today along with most other EU countries. Its Covid-19 death toll increased by 146, to 62,573, the seventh-highest globally.

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