FILE - In this April 16, 2020, file photo, Richard Eberhardt walks along a corridor at a nursing home in Kaysesberg, France. (Photo: AP)

Paris (People's Daily) -- The director of France's public health agency, Jérôme Salomon, said on Wednesday that there have been 21,340 deaths linked to COVID-19 in France since March 1 with 544 more recorded in the space of 24 hours.

In detail, 13,236 people have died in hospital, and 8,104 in nursing homes and medico-social establishments.

Regarding hospitalization figures, Salomon said that 29,741 patients are still hospitalized since the start of the epidemic, an increase of 1,619 in the past 24 hours, the balance, however, remains negative (365 fewer people).

In intensive care, there are still 5,218 patients, including 183 entries in 24 hours. But the balance is also negative taking exits into account, with 215 fewer patients. In addition, 40,657 hospitalized people have returned home since the start of the epidemic.

France has been under virtual lockdown for five weeks and is due to start lifting some confinement measures on May 11.

However, tensions over heavy-handed enforcement have boiled over in some of the capital’s working-class suburbs.

French Interior Minister Christophe Castaner said on Wednesday that French police will not shy away from enforcing a COVID-19 lockdown in the suburbs.

“We will make sure the lockdown is respected everywhere,” said Castaner.