The current Covid-19 wave engulfing France could reach its peak in around 10 days time, according to Professor Alain Fischer, an official responsible for France's Covid vaccine strategy.

"I think we are coming to the peak of this new wave," Fischer told LCI TV, adding that this peak could come "primarily towards the beginning of the second fortnight of January, so if we work it out this would be in around 10 days time".

Reuters reports French President Emmanuel Macron is banking that enough people will take up Covid vaccine booster shots to mitigate the effects of the virus, and thereby allow Macron to avoid enforcing major new restrictions to tackle the pandemic.