France's Covid-19 situation could improve over the next four to six weeks, as more of the country's population gets vaccinated, which could lead to a gradual return to normal life, French Health Minister Olivier Veran has reaffirmed.

Veran also told BFM TV that France was doing all it could to avoid a new national lockdown, although the government would keep all options open.

France registered 25,279 new coronavirus infections, bringing its total of cases to 3.84 million, and 293 more deaths, for a total death toll of 87,835.