France to extend lockdown, coronavirus death toll close to 11,000

A man wearing a protective face mask rides a bike in the deserted Rue de Rivoli in Paris, during a lockdown imposed to slow the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in France, April 8, 2020. REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes

PARIS (Reuters) - France reported some positive coronavirus-linked data on Wednesday, with the increase of hospital death fatalities slowing again, but the presidential palace said nonetheless the national lockdown aimed at containing the disease would be extended.

The lockdown, that took effect on March 17 and has already been extended once, will now go beyond April 15, a move that was widely expected.