France records 10,593 new Covid-19 cases in 24 hours as prime minister faces lawsuit over virus policy

The French prime minister is facing a lawsuit over his management of the coronavirus crisis as infections rose by more than 10,500 on Thursday.

France recorded another record-breaking rise of Covid-19 cases as the health ministry reported 10,593 new confirmed cases in the past 24 hours, up from 9,784 on Wednesday.

The death toll rose by 45, bringing the total tally to 31,095.

It came as a group of people who have recovered from coronavirus and the families of Covid-19 patients sued prime minister Jean Castex for allegedly overseeing dangerous and contradictory management of the outbreak.

Lawyer Fabrice Di Vizio said he filed the lawsuit Thursday on behalf of the France Coronavirus Victims group in the Court of Justice of the Republic.

The court has received more than 90 legal complaints against ministers.

The France Coronavirus Victims group, which has 200 members, is accusing Mr Castex of failing to “fight a disaster likely to create a danger for public safety.”

The members questioned why face masks were not made a requirement inside offices until September 1 and asked why France has yet to authorise speedy saliva tests for the virus.

Mr Di Vizio told AFP: "This country is being managed, not governed."

If the court decides to prosecute the case and Mr Castex is convicted, he could face up to two years in prison and a 30,000 Euro fine (£27,000) if convicted.

Last week Mr Castex said testing times would speed up to allow one million tests per week and the government would increase restrictions in Covid-19 hotspots.

The prime minister, who recently came out of self-isolation after coming into contact with an infected person, said the situation is "obviously worsening".

“For the first time in many weeks, we are noting a substantial increase in the number of hospitalised people,” he said on Friday.

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