A man wearing a mask leaves a drugstore in Strasbourg, eastern France, March 16, 2020. (Photo: AP)

Paris (People’s Daily) - France’s Ministry of Health and Solidarity announced on Friday the country had 5,233 new COVID-19 patients since yesterday, bringing the nationwide total 64,338.

Patients currently receiving hospital treatment reached 27,432, with 6,662 in critical condition.

Hospitals across the country have discharged 14,008 patients as the death toll stands at 6,507.

French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe said that due to intense demand for face masks from the US, Europe, and all over the world, France is having “real difficulties” with buying face masks.