France reports 987 coronavirus deaths in 24 hours, total toll tops 13,000

France on Friday reported 987 more COVID-19 deaths registered in hospitals and nursing homes over the last 24 hours, although the number of patients in intensive care fell for the second day in a row, France 24 reports.

The new deaths – including 554 in hospitals and 433 in nursing homes – brought the total toll in France to 13,197 since the epidemic began, top health official Jerome Salomon told reporters.

A child aged under 10 infected with COVID-19 died, but Salomon said that the causes of the death were “multiple”. In better news, Salomon said there were now 62 fewer people in intensive care, continuing a trend first seen on Thursday.

"This is a pale ray of sunshine," said Salomon. "But this timid light is very important for all the medical staff."

He added: "A plateau seems to be setting in -- a very high plateau with an epidemic that is very dynamic."