PARIS (Reuters) – The number of cornavirus patients in intensive care units in France reached its highest level this year on Saturday, according to data from the Ministry of Health, as the government faced calls for a strict lockdown to stem a third wave of infections.
France had 4,791 intensive care patients treated for COVID-19, up from 4,766 on Friday, the data showed.
According to the data, another 194 deaths linked to the virus have been recorded in hospitals in the past 24 hours.
ICU numbers are approaching the mid-November peak recorded during the second wave of the virus in France, although they remain well below the more than 7,000 when it was initially locked in spring 2020.
Doctors warn intensive care units in worst-hit areas could be overwhelmed and many say the government is moving beyond partial lockdown measures.
French President Emmanuel Macron this week defended his decision not to impose a third lockdown, but said further restrictions would likely be needed.
