French COVID-19 cases jump to new daily record above 13,000

 France reported 13,215 new confirmed coronavirus cases over the past 24 hours, a new record since the start of the epidemic, while the daily death toll jumped to a four-month high.

The new cases pushed the cumulative total to 428,696 as the seven-day moving average of daily new infections rose to more than 9,300, compared to a low of 272 at the end of May, two weeks after the lockdown was lifted.

Epidemiologists blame the increase on a combination of faster circulation of the virus and a six-fold increase in testing since the government made it free.

The health ministry also reported that the total number of deaths from COVID-19 increased by 154 to 31,249, a four-month high and triple the levels of the past week.

Earlier, the ministry reported the toll increased by 123, but then updated that to 154.

As the infection rate increases daily, the most affected regions and cities in France have tightened regulations.

(Reuters)