French police have searched the home of Health Minister Olivier Véran as part of an inquiry into the government's handling of the coronavirus crisis, his office said.
Mr Véran is one of several current or former ministers being probed over their response to the pandemic following complaints by victims of Covid-19 that they were slow to act to check its spread.
His office was also searched as part of the investigation by a court that hears cases of alleged wrongdoing by ministers in the course of their duties.
Officers also searched the home of the director of the national health agency, Jérôme Salomon.
Prime Minister Jean Castex is also under investigation over the pandemic, as is his predecessor Édouard Philippe and Mr Véran's predecessor in the health ministry, Agnès Buzyn.
Critics accuse the government of being too slow to roll out large-scale Covid-19 testing and playing down the importance of wearing masks at the outset of the pandemic, when face coverings were in short supply and being reserved for health workers.
European Parliament cancels Strasbourg session
Meanwhile, the European Parliament will hold next week's session by video conference as a precaution against coronavirus, its president said, despite France's demand that it return to Strasbourg.
The news comes after French President Emmanuel Macron announced curfews in nine cities to contain an alarming rise in Covid-19 cases, although Strasbourg, in the country's east, is not affected.
"I regret to announce that next week's plenary will not take place in Strasbourg, but will be remote," David Sassoli, the parliament president, wrote on Twitter.
"The situation in France and Belgium is very serious. Travelling is a danger."
The European Parliament has two bases, with the bulk of its work being carried out in Brussels alongside the other institutions of the European Union, and 12 week-long sessions in Strasbourg every year.
The costly and time-consuming trek for MEPs and their thousands of staff between the two cities has often been criticised, but France vehemently insists on its right - enshrined in the EU treaty - to host the assembly.
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Last month, Mr Macron demanded the parliament return to Strasbourg as soon as possible, saying Europe would be "screwed" if it met only in Brussels.
Since March, when the pandemic began to take hold in Europe, the parliament has met exclusively in Brussels, with many members connecting by video link to allow social distancing.
Mr Macron will have the chance to make his views known to Mr Sassoli face to face today when they meet at an EU summit in Brussels.
