Professor Michel Carles, infectious disease specialist at the CHU de Nice.

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CHU Nice

  • The Alpes-Maritimes are on a "high plateau" in terms of hospitalizations and resuscitation.

  • Covid-19 could become “endemic”, with new cases on a regular and sustained basis.

  • For family reunions, barrier measures, hand washing and room ventilation are crucial to avoid contamination.

This Thursday, more than 200 people with Covid-19 are still hospitalized in the Alpes-Maritimes, and among them 59 in intensive care, according to the latest figures communicated by the Regional Health Agency (ARS) of Provence-Alpes-Côte- Azure.

A "high plateau" and an always active circulation of the coronavirus which raises concerns in particular for the organization of family gatherings on the occasion of Christmas.

For Professor Michel Carles, infectious disease specialist at the University Hospital of Nice, a few simple measures will make it possible to awaken by limiting the risks of contamination.

Why in the Alpes-Maritimes more than elsewhere, the number of hospitalized Covid-19 patients is not decreasing?

The second wave rose less quickly and came down less quickly in the Alpes-Maritimes, as in other regions.

There is currently a decrease in conventional hospitalization even if it is not very clear.

We are rather on a descending plateau.

This is a situation that is not specific to the Alpes-Maritimes department, with an evolution of the epidemic a little different from the national trend.

Are there regional disparities that it is always difficult to explain?

This is one of the characteristics of the Covid-19 epidemic.

The public authorities are also thinking about perhaps deciding on differentiated measures according to the territories, depending on their epidemiological situation.

What to expect in the coming weeks?

I do not have a crystal ball but I observe that there is a viral circulation which remains relatively active.

On the positivity rates of PCR tests, there was a decrease clearly below 10%, but we do not go back to the level of the summer figures, which were well below 5%.

Today we are in a range of 5 to 7% positivity.

So we can expect the number of patients to remain high in the future?

First, we are probably going to go into an endemic, and no longer an epidemic, that is, having new cases on a regular and sustained basis, at a higher or lower level.

Second, the possibility of a third wave, in a relatively short time, cannot be ruled out.

Third, there is a question about the effect of the vaccination which will begin.

Will it help break the viral circulation?

Until then, there are the end of year celebrations.

What advice can you give for a responsible New Year's Eve?

It is necessary to try to respect the distance, imperatively to wash the hands several times in the evening, to ventilate the rooms where you are regularly, a few minutes every 30 to 45 minutes to renew the air.

Also avoid shouting, singing, having a phonation on a high level, which promotes the spread of the virus when not wearing the mask, at the table for example.

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  • Christmas

  • Hospital

  • Coronavirus

  • Covid 19

  • Nice

  • Health