This is one of the parameters scrutinized for May 11, and it is still too high: the number of patients in intensive care. The government and the Directorate General of Health expected 1,500 patients on Monday, but the figures will be closer to double. A data which does not a priori call into question the deconfinement but maintains a strong pressure on the hospital services, exhausted by nearly two months of fight against the coronavirus.
>> LIVE - Coronavirus: follow the evolution of the situation Wednesday May 6
"The most serious cases" hospitalized since the start of the crisis
The number of patients in intensive care for Covid-19 drops on average by 3% per day: at this rate, it will therefore be necessary to wait until the end of May to go below 1,500. "A certain number of patients admitted at the start of the crisis are still in intensive care, intubated and ventilated," explains Bruno Megarbane, head of the intensive care unit at Lariboisière hospital in Paris.
"These are the most serious cases," said the specialist, who does not expect a trend reversal in the coming weeks. "We estimate that in July or August, around 20 of our beds will still be occupied by Covid-positive patients."
More and more patients with other pathologies
The situation is particularly marked in the regions classified in red on the deconfinement map, and which see more and more patients suffering from other pathologies than coronavirus coming into intensive care. "What we fear is not having enough human resources to cope with this number of patients who need resuscitation for diseases other than Covid-19", warns Djilali Annane who directs the service from Raymond Poincaré hospital in Garches. "This number of patients is increasing every day."
CORONAVIRUS ESSENTIALS
> Partial unemployment: the parents' situation clarified
> A new inflammatory disease affecting children linked to the coronavirus?
> What will shopping be like after May 11?
> The French will have to go on vacation near their home
> Why going to the hairdresser will cost more after confinement
Especially since the doctors, nurses and nursing assistants sent at the start of the crisis to reinforce the resuscitation teams are currently returning to their home departments or hospitals. All these staff are therefore exhausted and fear the weeks to come.