France virus deaths near 2,314 as lockdown extended

France has reported an additional 319 deaths due to the coronavirus, bringing the total to 2,314, with Prime Minister Edouard Philippe warning that the country's battle against the virus is just beginning and the first two weeks of April will be even more challenging.

The total number of confirmed coronavirus cases in France has risen to 37,575, with 17,620 people hospitalized, including 4,273 in intensive care.

Prime Minister Philippe emphasized that France's objectives are to expand its intensive care capacity and to curb the spread of the virus.

Health Minister Olivier Veran pledged to significantly increase testing, aiming for 50,000 traditional and 30,000 rapid tests daily by the end of April, and up to 100,000 rapid tests daily by June.

In response to criticism regarding a shortage of masks, France has ordered one billion masks, including shipments from China, to address domestic production limitations of eight million masks per week.

France has been under lockdown since March 17 to slow the epidemic's spread, and this lockdown has been extended by two weeks to April 15.