The ministry also reported 219 new coronavirus deaths in hospitals over 24 hours, down from 244 on Wednesday.
The figures come just days after the country eased some of its lockdown restrictions.
France’s secondary schools reopened on Monday after a four-week break to ease the tide of infections, which is slowing down from a third wave peak last month.
Residents are now allowed to travel further than six miles from home and can go anywhere in the country.
Citizens no longer need to carry a form giving a valid reason for travelling, although a night-time curfew remains in force.
That curfew runs from 7pm to 6am nationwide and any breach of the rules means locals could face a fine of €135 (£117).
The country will start relaxing the nightly curfew and allow cafes, bars and restaurants to offer outside service from May 19.
President Macron’s plan is to to push the curfew back to 9pm from 7pm from May 19 and to 11pm from June 9, before being completely scrapped on June 30.
