WHO’s European regional director Dr. Hans Kluge said “hospitalizations have risen to levels unseen since the spring” and deaths have sharply risen by more than 30 per cent.

What's happening in France -- and why -- shares some parallels with the resurgence of the coronavirus in Canada. 

'This is par for the course when it comes to this disease and public communication,' said one Canadian expert.

New measures would include fast-tracked testing for priority cases to reduce time spent waiting for results, and targeted restrictions in areas hit especially hard.

The country decided to lift the lockdown after the number of patients in intensive care -- a key measure of hospitals' ability to cope -- fell to less than half the peak of over 7,000 seen in early April.

French President Emmanuel Macron said that from Tuesday midday, people should stay at home unless it was to buy groceries, travel to work, exercise or for medical care. Anyone flouting the restrictions, in place for at least the next two weeks, would be punished.