⁍ COVID-19 cases are surging in the country along with hospitalisations and deaths.

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⁍ There were 244 deaths from the virus in the past 24 hours, public health officials said on Wednesday.

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⁍ In a televised address to the nation, Macron said the new lockdown would take effect on Friday morning.

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– French President Emmanuel Macron declared a state of emergency Wednesday over an outbreak of bird flu that has killed more than 200 people in his country, the BBC reports. According to Reuters, France had already been through an eight-week lockdown of people entering or leaving the country due to the H7N9 bird flu outbreak. The latest outbreak of the virus, which has killed more than 200 people in France and sickened more than 5,600, has prompted the state of emergency, which will last at least until Dec. 1. The H7N9 outbreak has killed more than 200 people in France, according to the BBC. More than 5,600 people have been hospitalized in France with the virus. According to Reuters, France had already been through an eight-week lockdown of people entering or leaving the country due to the H7N9 outbreak. The latest outbreak of the virus has prompted the state of emergency. According to the BBC, the H7N9 outbreak has killed more than 200 people in France. More than 5,600 people have been hospitalized in France with the virus. According to the BBC, France had already been through an eight-week lockdown of people entering or leaving the country due to the H7N9 outbreak. The latest lockdown will take effect Friday morning.