Meanwhile French MPs are debating a new law that would allow only vaccinated people to enter bars, restaurants, cinemas, museums, sports arenas and other public venues, with a negative Covid test no longer accepted.
Health Ministry reported 10,908 new cases on Friday, taking the total to more than 5.84 million.; the daily new case tally was last over 10,000 at the end of May.
On Wednesday January 27th the health ministry reported 26,916 new confirmed COVID-19 cases, up from 22,086 on Tuesday and 26,784 last Wednesday, pushing the cumulative total over 3.1 million.
The latest death toll amounts to a sizeable increase of 311 over the 31,274 published on Saturday, a difference that may reflect late arriving data for earlier fatalities.