This is a new recommendation, published this Tuesday by the Scientific Council, which sounds like a new warning. "The balance is fragile, and we can switch at any time towards an uncontrolled resumption of the epidemic" of Covid-19, writes the body which advises the government. One indicator particularly worries the health authorities: the increase in the number of patients hospitalized in intensive care. A figure that had not stopped decreasing since April 9.
>> LIVE - Coronavirus: follow the evolution of the situation Tuesday August 4
On Thursday, one more patient had been registered in the intensive care unit. This weekend, 13 additional patients were admitted. Île-de-France, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, Hauts-de-France and Guyana account for 68% of patients in intensive care.
An R0 greater than 1 and new cases on the rise
Another indicator is carefully scrutinized: the virus reproduction rate, that is to say the number of people that a patient infects. At the time of deconfinement, it was at 0.7. Today, this R0 is 1.38. Finally, the number of new confirmed cases in France saw a significant increase last week, + 54%. The threshold of 1,000 new cases per day has even been exceeded on several occasions.
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To avoid a second epidemic wave, the Scientific Council is asking the authorities to put in place "prevention plans" focused in particular on the largest metropolises. The body that has advised the government since the start of the epidemic also points to "delays" in the screening strategy. Finally, the Scientific Council recommends a stricter control of travelers arriving from countries "at risk", with tests on their departure or arrival and a quarantine of 14 days.