France sees 471 new COVID-19 deaths in hospital, some 900 deaths at old people's home

AFP

French hospitals registered a one-day loss of 471 coronavirus patients, taking the total to 4,503, while some 900 dependant elder people living at nursing homes had died of the virus since the epidemic began, a health official said on Thursday.

In total, 59,105 people had tested positive for the virus, up by 2,116 in one day, versus an increase of 4,861 on Wednesday, said Director General of Health Jerome Salomon at the daily conference on the epidemic.

Some 26,646 patient are now hospitalized, including 6,399 who need intensive care, a rise of 382. Among those in intensive care units, 90 are under the age of 30.

"We are coping with a highly exceptional epidemic that has an unprecedented impact on our health system," Salomon reiterated.

French hospitals now offer 10,000 beds for coronavirus patients, double the capacity when the outbreak began in January. The government aims to provide 14,500 beds in April.

To offer relief to strained hospitals notably in and around Paris and in Grand Est near German border, 439 patients in serious conditions have been transported to less-saturated domestic hospitals or to neighbouring countries, said Salomon.

The official added that 14,638 confirmed or possible cases of coronavirus infection had been reported in accommodation establishments for dependent elderly people (called "Ehpad" in French) while 884 deaths had occurred in social and medico-social establishments.

Combined with the hospital toll, this would mean at least 5,387 people have died of COVID-19 in France since February.

This is a partial assessment for the moment, as not all establishments had been able to provide precise figures, noted Salomon.

Coronavirus deaths in nursing homes were previously excluded from the official count, which only took into account those who died in hospitals.