France's Macron to address the nation as COVID cases surge

FILE PHOTO: French President Emmanuel Macron adjusts his protective face mask at the start of the G20 leaders summit at the convention center La Nuvola in Rome, Italy, October 30, 2021. Ludovic Marin/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo

PARIS (Reuters) -French President Emmanuel Macron is to speak to the nation about the resurgence of COVID-19 infections as well as other issues including economic reforms, government spokesman Gabriel Attal said on Friday.

The rate of infection has picked up strongly in the past month, with the number of new COVID-19 infections week on week increasing by double-digit percentages for several days in a row.