France sees glimmer of hope as fewer hospitalized patients registered

An area is taped off for a one-way circulation at an open-air market in Armentieres, northern France, on April 17, 2020. Despite a rising COVID-19 death toll in France, the number of people being hospitalized fell for a third straight day, offering a glimmer of hope, said Director General of Health Jerome Salomon on Friday. The death toll in France climbed to 18,681 on Friday, representing a daily rise of 761 compared with 753 registered a day before, said Salomon at a daily briefing on the pandemic. (Photo by Sebastien Courdji/Xinhua)