Jean Castex, French PM, is giving a press conference on what France has done and what it will be doing re: Covid-19. This follows a spike of 5,429 new cases in the previous 24 hours.

Will give a summary when they stop talking!

Please excuse typos and clumsy translation:
Castex: We have seen the epidemic growing again for several weeks. The famous R number is over 1 . It was 3 at height of the epidemic and we went down to 0.7 in May. We are now around 1.4.

Castex: There are around 3,000 new cases a day, when this went down to less than 1,000. We have to interpret these figures carefully. But we are testing more and more we test, the more we find, but increased testing does not explain increase in cases.

Castex: We estimate the level of incidence currently at 39/100,000 population, four times more than a month ago. It’s not a French exception; the virus is progressing everywhere in the world. The incident level is increasing . 100 par 100000 in RU and Germany.

Castex: This virus is spreading particularly among the young, notably the 20 - 30 age group who are carrying the virus without knowing it. The impact of these figures, however, is relatively weak on hospitals.

Castex: The number of positive cases is rising for all age groups and number of hospitalisations is beginning to slowly but inexorably rise. It’s not an explosion, it’s a trend. Another characteristic of the progression of the virus is territorial...

Castex: ...some areas affected worse than others. Among these the Ile de France and the Grand Est, where the epidemic is regaining ground and we have to act. Clearly something has been happening since this summer, which scientists did not necessarily foresee.

Castex: This doesn't mean we are in the same serious situation as earlier this year. We are very far from that of March an April when there was a spike of 1,000/per 100,000 population, 20 times higher than today.

Castex: But we have to act today, because the epidemic could grow exponentially if we don't do something. The virus is circulating more in France, Europe and the world. Our motto is: live with the virus. The virus is still there and it is growing.

Castex: We must have all the means to stop this progression and to protect ourselves. We have to continue to live, work, educate, distract ourselves with cultural activities...

Castex: The more our activity stops, the more the economy stops and the more dramatic the consequences will be. It’s our duty to anticipate and foresee all hypotheses….

Castex: the plan for more strict measures is ready. Our hospitals are ready for another wave of patients. Our aim is to all all we can to avoid a general lockdown and prevent a new wave of patients and pressure on our hospitals.

Castex: We have been preparing for the return to school for several weeks. The government, like the virus, has not taken a holiday. The return also concerns the professional sector and we have taken measures so all this can happen as smoothly as possible.

Castex: Obviously, we have to guarantee people's health, prevention and protection against the virus for everyone. Prevention is the key and I repeat again the health protection measures. Wear a mask as often as possible. We now know more about the virus...

Castex: We know it can be carried through the air. Our public science committee has recommended the systematic wearing of masks. It has been obligatory on public transport since 11 May, then made obligatory in workplaces and those receiving the public...

Castex: Then in areas where the prefect decides. The rule is simple: wearing a mask is compulsory in all closed spaces where there are several people including work places except if you are alone in an office. All teachers must be masked. All students over 11 must wear masks.

Castex: The question of the accessibility of masks. France has been one of the most generous in the world in this. Firstly we give fee masks to those in the most difficult situation and their children. 50m masks have been sent to 3m families in difficulty...that's 9m people.

Castex: "We have decided to renew this operation (sending masks) in October and whenever necessaryuntil the end of the epidemic. Vulnerable people and those who have specific needs for masks can have them freely prescribed by doctors.

Castex: But wearing masks mustn't make us forget the protection measures. Wearing a mask isn't always simple, keeping your distance from others is not always a spontaneous reflex. Avoid family gatherings. Respect protection measures. Only 20% of contaminations can be explained...

Castex: ...by clusters, which shows the main transmission is being done through daily contacts in private spaces. I am calling on your sense of responsibility. Our second aim is to break the chain of transmission. This involves, testing, isolating people who have been tested...

Castex: ...and shown to be carrying the virus and indentify those they have been in contact with. This is an appeal to everyone's responsibility. If you test positive, we have to identify people you have been in contact with and you have to respect the rule of self isolation.

Castex: We are currently carrying out 830,000 tests a week and the aim is to be carrying out 1m tests a week by the end of September. There have been 300,000 controls in public spaces, and 1,900 measures taken by police (warnings etc) and 52 (establishment) closures.

Castex: We are currently running at around 700 verbal warnings (by police/gendarmes) a day for not wearing a mask. It's for local authorities to decide to intensify or not the measures, which I have to say are sometimes necessary. Prefects have reinforced powers...

Castex: "Firstly they can, after consultation with mayors, order that masks must be worn everywhere in the public space, as has been done at Marseille. In Paris, there are urgent consultations between the prefect and the authorities, on the general need to wear a mask...

Castex thenspoke about the "social and economic consequences" of the crisis. The €100bn Recovery Plan will be announced next week. Education minister then spoke about returning to school, and Health minister spoke about the search for a vaccine.

Ministers spoke of a certain "relachement" among people, particularly the young, ie dropping of guard, not respecting the protection measures to stop transmission of the virus.

Conclusion of @2 hours of press conference:
*Virus spreading again
*People must be responsible
*ALL schools open next Tuesday
*Local lockdown measures in worst areas
*Government "prepared" for an eventual general lockdown but will do everything possible to avoid.

*wear a mask, wash hands, keep distance
*Testing, tracing and isolation essential
*France, Europe, the world, must live with the virus

The above is a near as possible verbatim translation of what French PM Jean Castex said during this morning's press conference for those who are interested and don't speak French. I can't add to it and sorry I can't answer questions on specifics.