France, March 26 -- French health minister Olivier Veran slapped tighter restrictions on three more regions on Thursday night as part of the government's efforts to arrest the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.

Last week President Emmanuel Macron's administration ordered the closure of non-essential stores and limits on travel in 16 regions including the zonearound Paris.

Veran added the Aube in the north-east, Nievre in central France and the Rhone department in the south-east to the list.

"The Covid-19 pandemic is accelerating almost everywhere in France," Veran said.

"The pressure on the hospital system will continue in this new wave. We're well into it ... and nowhere near out of it."

The measures will come into effect on Friday...