French average of new COVID-19 cases drops below 5,000 for first time since mid-July

A tent for rapid coronavirus disease (COVID-19) test is seen on the Champs-Elysees near the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, September 3, 2021. REUTERS/Eric Gaillard

PARIS (Reuters) - The French seven-day average of new COVID-19 cases dropped below 5,000 again for the first time since July 13, health ministry data released on Friday showed.

The ministry reported 4,935 news cases on Friday, taking the total to 7.02 million and the seven-day moving average, which smoothes out daily reporting irregularities, fell by 135 to 4,967.