France is seeing an acceleration of the Covid-19 outbreak after a surge in infections but aims to avoid any new nationwide lockdown, AFP quoted Prime Minister Jean Castex as saying on Friday.

There is a “clear worsening” in France of the spread of Covid-19 which has “not lowered in intensity” and “will still be with us for some months,” Castex said in a televised statement in Paris.

But he did not announce any major new restrictions, saying France's aim is to “avoid a general lockdown” and succeed in living with the virus through social distancing, mask-wearing and ramped-up testing.