PARIS (REUTERS, AFP) - French authorities tightened their lockdown measures in the capital on Tuesday (April 7) by banning Parisians from outdoors sports activity between 10am and 7pm, aiming to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

The move came after many French politicians and doctors expressed dismay at the fact that the streets of Paris still feature people jogging or congregating near markets despite government orders to get people to stay in as much as possible.

The city's police and mayor's departments said in a joint statement that, from Wednesday, outdoor sports would no longer be permitted between those conventional daytime hours.

Mayor Anne Hidalgo and the capital’s police chief Didier Lallement said in a statement that "every excursion avoided aids the fight against the epidemic".

People looking to go for a run would have to do so between 7pm and 10am.

France has confined residents to their homes since March 17 to stem the spread of the virus. The measures have been extended until April 15, and are likely to be extended again.

Also on Tuesday, the Atlantic coastal resort city of Biarritz limited the amount of time people could sit on public benches or in other public areas to just two minutes maximum, saying the confinement rules meant that "dawdling is prohibited".

Biarritz, Paris and other cities have already closed public parks and gardens during the confinement, as part of the nationwide confinement that requires people to carry a document justifying their trips from home.

Those caught without the document face fines starting at 135 euros (S$209.66).

'FAR FROM OVER'

The tougher rules came after Health Minister Olivier Veran announced Monday a record daily coronavirus death toll of 833 people in 24 hours.

He said 478 people were admitted to intensive care in the period, a higher figure than in previous days.

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"It is not over. Far from that. The path is long," the minister said, urging people to "stay at home and continue this confinement effort".

Interior Minister Christophe Castaner had already urged regional officials to toughen restrictions locally.

On Monday, the mayor of Sceaux, a commune south of Paris, issued a decree obliging all residents over the age of 10 to cover their mouth and nose when leaving the home starting on Wednesday.

Those who do not have surgical masks must wear a homemade alternative or tie a scarf or bandanna around their face, otherwise they could be fined 38 euros.

In a radio interview earlier on Tuesday, Ms Hidalgo said she was not making masks obligatory although she did encourage everyone to cover their faces and noses.

The French government requisitioned all medical masks earlier in the outbreak for doctors and nurses.