In Savoie, the second wave of the Covid-19 epidemic is hitting hard.

With an incidence rate 2.5 times higher than the national average, the department is facing an explosion of contaminations that the authorities cannot explain.

Especially since last spring, the territory had been little affected. 

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Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes is still the region most affected in France by the coronavirus.

If the territories around Lyon and Saint-Etienne were particularly affected, since this week, it is Savoy which is under fire from the second wave.

With 1,121 positive cases on Wednesday per 100,000 inhabitants, i.e. an incidence rate 2.5 times greater than the national average, it is the department where there are the most Covid cases.

An explosion of the epidemic for a fortnight, that the doctors cannot explain.

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The Chambéry hospital is very close to saturation, explains doctor Philippe Dalmon.

"We have 20, 30 patients who come in every day," he says.

"We made 14 transfers to other regions. Without these transfers, for three days we would be full in intensive care and we could not accommodate any patient."

Relaxation or proximity to Geneva?

The situation surprised caregivers and residents, because Savoie was little affected during the first wave.

However, the population has not changed here.

Compared to Alsace, for example, the department has fewer obese people, diabetics or people with hypertension. 

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The explanation may lie in the relaxation, precisely because there were few cases last spring.

Barrier gestures were less respected, especially in the family sphere.

Paulette, 85, hospitalized for a month, testifies.

"I went to my grandson's wedding, it was on October 10. On the 12th, we were called: the bride had the Covid", explains the octogenarian, wearing an oxygen mask.

"She called us and they brought me here, I have no more strength," she adds. 

Another possible explanation is the proximity of Geneva in Switzerland, where the incidence rate is close to 2,000 cases per 100,000 inhabitants.

Or the double of Savoy.