The Delta variant of the Covid-19 virus first found in India — which experts deem more infectious than other variants — currently represents 9-10 per cent of confirmed new Covid cases in France, Reuters quotes the French government spokesman Gabriel Attal as saying.

Attal also told reporters that Russia had been added to the list of countries considered by France as high-risk Covid zones, along with Namibia and Seychelles.

Last week, French health minister Olivier Veran said the Delta variant represented 2-4pc of cases in France.