France has detected 7,730 cases of coronavirus infection, and 175 people had died of the virus, Health General Director Jerome Salomon announced on Tuesday at a daily update.

File photo: CGTN

In the last 24 hours, 1,097 more people were diagnosed with the COVID-19, which claimed 27 more deaths.

A total of 2,579 patients were hospitalized, of which 699 in intensive care, up from 400 registered on Monday. Meanwhile, 602 infected individuals were cured and returned home at the weekend, Salomon said.

"Mortality is relatively low but the epidemic is severe and rapid. Our priority is not to saturate our hospitals," he said, recalling the necessity to strictly respect barrier gestures and social distancing.

Salomon said testing all the population "is not very important" while placing it under lockdown was "the best answer" to combat the coronavirus pandemic.

"The strategy is to test all people with severe symptoms, hospitalized people and health professionals," he added.

On Tuesday noon, France was put into lockdown for at least 15 days. Only really necessary journeys, such as for professional or health reasons or to buy foods, are allowed.