France's new COVID-19 cases up by 3,466 over 24 hours

France on Saturday recorded 3,466 new coronavirus infections over the past 24 hours, below the 19,348 reported a day earlier, data from the Health Ministry showed.

The increase was within the government's target of 5,000 or less per day and brought the cumulative total to 2,643,239.

The COVID-19 death toll was up by 157 to 64,921, the ministry said in a daily update.

Battling one of the highest COVID-19 case counts in western Europe, France has stepped up coronavirus restrictions, imposing an earlier curfew in 15 northeastern and southeastern departments from Saturday, starting at 6 p.m. instead of 8 p.m.