France reports 29,837 new virus cases

PARIS, Oct 19 (Xinhua): The number of new confirmed COVID-19 cases in France rose by 29,837 on Sunday, lower than Saturday's record figure of 32,427, according to the Public Health Agency.

The cumulative number of people who have caught the respiratory illness now stood at 897,034, while fatalities rose by 85 in one day to 33,477.

COVID-19 infections have surged sharply in France in recent weeks, particularly among young people, prompting the government to introduce a curfew in nine big cities, including Paris, from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m.

Starting from Friday midnight, the new restrictive rule would remain in force at least for four weeks.

According to the World Health Organization, a total of 42 COVID-19 candidate vaccines were in clinical evaluation worldwide as of Oct. 15, which include several from China, the United Kingdom, Russia, the United States, Belgium and Germany that enter Phase 3 trial.