France reports over 200,000 new daily COVID cases for fourth day running

France reported 219,126 new confirmed coronavirus cases in a 24-hour period on Saturday, the fourth day in a row that the country has recorded more than 200,000 cases.

Saturday's figure is the second-highest to date after the 232,200 record set on Friday, when French President Emmanuel Macron said that the next few weeks would be difficult due to the recent surge in infections.

The seven-day moving average of new cases in France, which smoothes out daily reporting irregularities, rose to an all-time high of 157,651 - jumping almost fivefold in a month.