The Minister of Health detailed Thursday evening the means that the health authorities intended to implement to track down the British variant of the coronavirus, against which the WHO continues to alert.

Across the Channel, this variant is wreaking havoc in hospitals, to the point of raising fears of a third wave more deadly than the first.

DECRYPTION

In Europe, concern is mounting over what has been called the Covid-19 mutant, namely the British variant which is spreading much faster than the strain known until then.

"Without increased control to slow its spread, there will be a stronger impact on health facilities already under pressure," warned Hans Kluge, regional director of the World Health Organization.

"This moment represents a tipping point in the course of the pandemic where science, politics, technology and values ​​must form a united front in order to fend off this persistent and elusive virus." 

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In France, the government takes the threat of British (but also South African) mutant coronavirus viruses very seriously: anyone from these countries must continue to present a negative test dating less than 72 hours before coming to France.

So far, 19 cases of the British variant and 3 cases of the South African variant have been identified in our territory.

Two "risk clusters" of the British variant of the coronavirus have been detected in France, Brittany and Île-de-France, Olivier Véran announced Thursday evening.

And this British virus is 40% to 70% more contagious than the one we know.

Two amplifications on some tests

The Minister of Health clarified how the health authorities intend to improve the hunt for this more contagious virus.

As these more contagious strains circulate a lot among young people, the government first wants to closely monitor cases of contamination in schools.

He wants to organize massive screenings, but also to complete the "dubious" PCR tests carried out between Thursday and Friday by genetic sequencing, which makes it possible to confirm or not the presence of a mutant virus.

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When Olivier Véran speaks of "dubious" tests, he is referring to a type of PCR test which exists on the market and which does not react quite like the others in the presence of the British variant.

"Normally you should have three amplifications, basically three lights that come on to tell you 'the virus is there'. When it comes to the English variant, there are only two lights that come on." , explains Professor Bruno Lina, virologist and member of the Scientific Council.

About 30% of French laboratories are equipped with this test from the manufacturer Thermo Fisher.

They only spot British mutants so far, but could very well be adapted to spot South African mutants. 

"Much worse than the first wave"

Because the stake is extremely important: it is a question of avoiding the congestion experienced by British hospitals, overwhelmed by Covid patients.

There are currently 50% more hospitalizations there than at the peak of the first wave.

In the intensive care unit of a London hospital, caregivers are "on a war footing", describes the

Daily Telegraph.

They tell of the exhaustion, tears and fear at the end of each shift.

Other caregivers say in The 

Guardian

 : "The patients are younger. What we are going through is much worse than the first wave."

The press also relays the alarming comments of the director of the Public Health Service, who indicates that beds will soon have to be found elsewhere, such as in field hospitals set up from scratch during the pandemic, or in retirement homes.