The number of patients with coronavirus in French intensive care units rose on Saturday to a new high for this year, increasing the pressure to impose new restrictions that President Emmanuel Macron says will probably be needed, Trend reports citing Reuters.
France had 4,791 ICU patients being treated for COVID-19, up from 4,766 on Friday, health ministry data showed.
The numbers are approaching a peak recorded in mid-November during the second wave of the virus, although last spring, when France imposed its first lockdown, saw a peak of more than 7,000.
Doctors say intensive care units in the worst-hit regions could become overwhelmed.
The government’s commitment to keeping schools open has been called into question due to rising case numbers among students and opposition from teachers, who are threatening to walk out.