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VIRUS-FRANCE-TOLL
French 24-hour virus toll drops below 100
PARIS, May 17, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – France on Saturday reported 96 new coronavirus deaths, a lower figure than in previous days, as its overall toll from the pandemic reached 27,625.
Several other recent positive trends continued as well, with 71 fewer people in intensive care, the health ministry said.
The latest figures came as France enjoyed the sixth day of the partial easing of a nationwide lockdown imposed on March 17 to battle the virus.
At present, there are 19,432 people in hospital for COVID-19 treatment in France, down from 22,614 one week ago, the ministry figures showed.
But the number of admissions within 24 hours released on Saturday came to 350, an increase from the week-earlier number of 265.
Health officials in the central Val de Loire region meanwhile reported an outbreak at an abattoir in which 34 cases of coronavirus had been detected.
Experts were called in on Friday to start testing and were still contacting all the workers to check them.
The abattoir itself, at Fleury-les-Aubrais near the city of Orleans, has been shut down for on-site tests and cleaning.
BSS/AFP/MMA/1040HRS