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In this photo from May 6, a patient suffering from the Covid-19 is treated in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at the hospital in Vannes, France. © REUTERS - Stephane Mahe

Covid-19: France's death toll rises by fewer than 100 for seventh consecutive day

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Prime Minister Édouard Philippe will on Thursday detail new steps in the lifting of a two-month lockdown that was imposed on March 17, which could include the reopening of bars and restaurants in some parts of France.

Earlier on Wednesday, the French government's contact-tracing app plan was approved by the lower house of parliament, paving the way for a weekend launch.

The French health ministry said in a statement that the number of fatalities from the coronavirus had risen by 66, or 0.2 percent, to 28,596, the fourth-highest tally in the world.

The daily death toll increased on average by 910 between April 1 and April 15 as France struggled to contain the outbreak.

The number of confirmed cases rose by 191, or 0.1 percent, to 145,555, a lower rate of increase than the daily average of 0.2 percent seen during the last seven days.

Meanwhile, the number of patients in hospital with coronavirus fell by 584, or 3.6 percent, to 16,264, the sharpest decline to date. Intensive care patients dropped by 54 to 1,555, continuing the downward trend of the last almost seven weeks.

(FRANCE 24 with REUTERS)