France's R-value has risen above one following a spate of infections across the country's capital, its prime minister said today.

France's Covid-19 reproduction "R" number is now 1.4,  Jean Castex told reporters today, as he announced that face masks will now be made compulsory in all public places in Paris.

"The virus is spreading all over the country," he said, blaming the overall rise on a surge of infections across Paris and among young people. 

Following the "undeniable resurgence" of the Covid-19 epidemic, grandparents are now being told not to pick their grandchildren up from school over fears it may soon lead to hospital overcrowding.

The government is hoping to avoid a new nationwide lockdown, but the country has been facing a resurgence of new Covid-19 infections since July, with an acceleration from mid-August.

The health ministry reported 5,429 new daily infections yesterday, a new post-lockdown high and a level of new infections not seen since the height of the epidemic in early April.

"The spread of the epidemic can be exponential if we do not react quickly," he said.