France reports record daily COVID-19 infections

PARIS

France confirmed 16,972 more cases of the novel coronavirus Saturday -- the highest daily figure since the beginning of the pandemic -- with the total reaching 606,625.

It registered 49 more fatalities, raising the death toll to 32,198.

In addition, hospitalizations and intensive care patients are also up, with 4,087 patients being treated in hospitals and 849 in the ICU.

The country's science committee had warned that France could see a second wave of the pandemic in the fall and winter.

Across the world, COVID-19 has claimed more than a million lives in 188 countries and regions since last December.

The US, India and Brazil are currently the worst-hit countries.

Over 34.7 million cases have been reported worldwide, with recoveries surpassing 24.1 million, according to figures compiled by the US-based Johns Hopkins University.