On the eve of the second phase of de-confinement, France recorded 31 COVID-19 deaths in the last 24 hours, the lowest daily increase since mid March, bringing the overall death toll of the epidemic to 28,833, the Health Ministry said on Monday.
French hospitals registered 18,506 fatalities, up from 18,475 on Sunday, while the data from nursing homes and medico-social establishments would be updated on Tuesday.
The number of people in hospital with COVID-19 fell to 14,288 from 14,322 on Sunday. The number of those who need life support continued its downtrend, falling by 17 to 1,302.
France will start the second phase of de-confinement on Tuesday, with restriction rules further eased. "This good news should not make us forget that the virus is still circulating on national territory and that it remains dangerous," the ministry warned.
Since mid-April the coronavirus situation in France has improved, paving the way for the government to further unwind restrictive rules, allowing a gradual return to normalcy while maintaining high vigilance to avoid a second epidemic wave.
