PARIS: The pressure on French hospitals from the coronavirus epidemic eased further on Tuesday with the number of COVID-19 patients in intensive care units (ICU) down by 171 to 4,015, as the country prepares for a new easing of coronavirus constraints.

From Wednesday, non-essential retail outlets will be able to reopen to customers for the first time in six weeks as France gradually winds down its third national lockdown in little more than a year.

The daily COVID-19 death tally in hospitals increased by 187 to 81,692, compared with an increase of 196 on Monday.

The ministry also reported 17,210 new cases on Tuesday versus 3,350 on Monday, bringing the total tally to 5.89 million cases.

There are less cases reported on Mondays as less testing is carried out during the weekend.