By Cindi Cook
PARIS (AA) – France’s daily death toll from COVID-19 nearly doubled on Tuesday: Over the last 24 hours, 523 deaths were recorded, a dramatic rise from 265 over Monday, and the highest in six months.
A total of 292 of those fatalities took place in hospitals while 231 were in nursing homes, according to France's Health Ministry.
Tuesday's recorded fatalities saw the biggest one-day increase since April. The total number of fatalities now stands at 35,541.
Infections also jumped on Tuesday, with 33,417 new cases reported, a rise of 6,646 over the day prior. Total infections to date now stand at nearly 1.199 million.
Monday's hospitalizations were reported at 14,110, with 2,057 of those patients in intensive care. The national incidence rate rose above 380 per 100,000 inhabitants over the past week as well.
Addressing the nation Wednesday evening, President Emmanuel Macron is expected to announce new coronavirus restrictions, a possibly earlier curfew, or the outside chance of new confinement.
France remains in a state of emergency, and 54 departments are under a nightly curfew from 9 p.m. until 6 a.m.
