Paris, Aug 5, 2020, SPA -- France reported 1,695 new COVID-19 infections over 24 hours, at 194,029, the highest daily increase since May 30, when they were up by 1,828, Reuters quoted health ministry data as showing today, on Wednesday. In a statement, the ministry also said the number patients in intensive care units in French hospitals for the disease went down by four, at 384, after increasing for two days in a row. --SPA 23:20 LOCAL TIME 20:20 GMT 0020 www.spa.gov.sa/w1385798