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PARIS: France reported on Monday (May 11) 263 more deaths from the coronavirus, a sharp increase in the previous days, as the country marked the first reduction in a blockade of nearly two months.
The new deaths brought the total number of hospitals and nursing homes from the pandemic in France to 26,643, the health ministry said.
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The ministry reported 70 more deaths Sunday, the lowest daily figure announced since March 17, the day the shutdown began in France.
However, weekend tolls are often lower than weekly, possibly due to reporting delays, particularly in nursing homes.
READ: In France’s mask race, older people lost
France began to pull out of its blockade on Monday, although there are still many restrictions across the country.
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There has been a steady downward trend in key French coronavirus numbers in recent days, though authorities caution that caution is still needed and that the risk of a second wave continues.
Continuing recent trends, there were 64 fewer coronavirus patients in total in intensive care on Monday.
The government has divided France into green and red areas, with Paris and three other regions classified as red seeing more limited relaxation of the blockade.
High-ranking French official in charge of relief measures, Jean Castex, warned that the blockade could be re-imposed if the number of cases increases again.
“In the absence of a vaccine or short-term treatment, the French population remains vulnerable to the resumption of the epidemic,” he wrote in his report to ease the blockade.
“The possibility that the (flexibilization) measures may be reversed … must be anticipated by the authorities,” he added.
The health ministry in its statement urged people to wear masks in some situations in public and to observe social distancing, saying: “The epidemic is still active and evolving.”
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