The number of new infections across France broke a new record with more than 200,000 cases reported over the previous 24 hours, the Health Minister announced on Wednesday.
Olivier Véran told a parliamentary hearing that 208,000 new cases had been recorded.
"I wouldn't describe it as a wave anymore when it comes to Omicron," Véran said, adding that "given the figures we have been recording over the last few days in our country, I would tend to speak of a tidal wave."
The minister said 10% of the population were "contact cases", and the unvaccinated had "little chance of escaping the worst".
There have been warnings that the daily figures may vary due to the holiday period, but the past week has seen a stark rise in cases.
On Wednesday the
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