Infection rates have accelerated strongly in the past month, with the number of new COVID-19 cases rising by double-digit percentages from last week for several days in a row. “The epidemic is picking up speed again in Europe, Europe has again become the epicentre of the epidemic,” government spokesman Gabriel Attal told reporters. The seven-day average of daily new infections now stands at more than 6,200, up from less than 4,200 in early October. Attal said Macron would review the COVID-19 situation and would also talk about the country’s economic recovery, the government’s reform programme and other issues. Macron’s office said the speech would be on Tuesday. Macron’s last major televised speech was on July 12 at the start of a fourth wave of infections. He announced then that vaccinations would be mandatory for all health workers. French epidemiologists have recently suggested widening the scope of the vaccine booster campaign to include new categories. On Wednesday, the government said face masks would again be compulsory from next week for school children in 39 regional departments where infection rates are high.