The number of patients hospitalized due to Covid-19 infection continues to fall in France, including in critical care services which treat the most serious cases, according to daily figures published on Saturday by health authorities.
Read alsoA “Deltacron” variant detected in France
Hospitals had 22,196 patients (including 542 admitted in the past 24 hours), three thousand less than seven days ago.
The day before, the figure was 22,643 people hospitalized.
Critical care services received 2,075 patients (including 55 admissions), 400 less than the previous Saturday.
109 dead in hospital in 24 hours
The number of positive cases stood at 53,678, according to the French public health agency, against 57,789 the day before.
The seven-day average, which gives an idea of the real evolution of the epidemic, declines to 52,180 cases, against 59,844 cases seven days ago.
Public Health France announces 109 deaths in 24 hours in hospital, against 91 the previous Saturday.
The epidemic has killed 139,243 people in total in France since its beginnings, a little over two years ago.
Read alsoCovid-19: great disparities in vaccine coverage across the globe
Prime Minister Jean Castex announced this week the end of wearing a mask, except in transport, and the suspension of the vaccination pass, from March 14.
Vaccination continues, at a moderate pace: 54.23 million French people have received at least one dose (i.e. 80.4% of the population), nearly 53.3 million are fully vaccinated (79% of the total population) , and more than 39.1 million received a booster dose, according to the Directorate General of Health.