The French health ministry has reported 26,784 new confirmed COVID-19 cases over the past 24 hours, up from 23,608 on Tuesday and 23,852 last Wednesday.
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Wednesday's tally was the highest since November 18 when 28,383 infections were registered during France's second lockdown that month.
A record high 86,852 cases were recorded on November 7.
France also reported 310 new coronavirus deaths in hospitals in the past 24 hours, from 229 last Wednesday.
The seven-day moving average of coronavirus deaths in hospitals and retirement homes rose to 374, from 363 on Tuesday.
Four weeks after Christmas - when the government eased a curfew so French families could gather - the number of people in hospital with the virus increased by 119 to 25,686.
The seven-day moving average of new hospital admissions rose to 131, its highest level since November 18.
At the start of the second lockdown, that average stood over 1000 for nine days.
The number of people in intensive care also continued increasing, up by 13 to 2852, a level not registered since mid-December.
The government has said intensive care numbers need to be between 2500 and 3000 before it can consider easing limits on people movements.
Last Thursday, the government tightened a daily curfew to 6pm from 8pm.
Australian Associated Press
