PARIS (Reuters) - On Thursday, France set a new record of 6,000 hospitalized for COVID-19 related cases for the first time in two months. The numbers are the second highest in Europe with Spain coming in next.

Gyms and cafes were ordered to close for two weeks in Marseille, a major city in France, to contain the virus. The Prime minister has warned that if the government does not act to prevent the rise in COVID-19 numbers, there could be a repeat of the previous crisis in March.

"The hour is serious and we must act. We have to hope that the virus won't last 30 years and that we'll find a vaccine," the Prime Minister said.