Authorities in France want to accelerate vaccinations against the coronavirus before Christmas as infections surge and more people with Covid-19 seek medical attention, reports AP.

People can celebrate Christmas normally, but we must respect the rules ... and get vaccinated, French Prime Minister Jean Castex told public radio outlet France Blue during an interview in the Alsace region.

France has registered a daily average of more than 44,000 new cases over the last week, a 36 per cent increase from the previous week, according to the latest government figures.