Delays in France’s Pension Reform to Focus on Post-Pandemic Economic Recovery

Surging Cases in France's Brittany Region

The popular tourist region of Brittany is seeing a spike in the reproduction rate of the Covid-19 virus based on government data.

The news indicates the virus transmission is gaining momentum in France.

The French government sped up plans to make wearing face masks mandatory in enclosed public spaces on Thursday.

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There are growing public concerns about new Covid-19 hotspots particularly in parts of western and southern France.

These two areas were relatively spared during the height of the Covid-19 outbreak between March and May.

According to data released on Friday, the disease's reproduction rate, known as the R0, in Brittany had risen from 0.92 to 2.62 between July 10 and July 14.

The number is one of several indicators authorities are watching when deciding on whether to reimpose tougher restrictions after ending the country's lockdown in May.

A reproduction rate of 2.62 means that each Covid-19 infected person is, on average, passing the disease on to between two and three other people.

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A rate of less than 1 is needed to gradually contain the disease.

"It's a worrying number because it means the epidemic is taking off again," Eric Caumes, an infectious disease specialist at the Pitie-Salpetriere hospital in Paris told BFM TV.

The disease has killed more than 30,000 people in France.

While it has been under control with fatalities and the number of people in intensive care falling, daily cases have increased ahead of the summer holiday season, where people are gathering in larger groups and travelers from abroad have been allowed back into France.