A woman undergoes a PCR test (illustration).

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E. Frisullo / 20 Minutes

  • The circulation of the coronavirus is very active on the northern coast with an incidence rate twice the national average.

  • In the Dunkirk and Gravelines sectors, the presence of the British variant is particularly strong.

  • It is present in more than half of positive cases, up to 70% in Dunkirk.

The English variant arrives in force.

On Wednesday, the mayor of Dunkirk, Patrice Vergriete, warned of the explosion in the number of its citizens infected with the British variant of the coronavirus.

A trend that the Regional Health Agency (ARS) confirmed this Thursday, adding that other sectors on the coast were concerned.

In a press release, the ARS recalls the incidence rates which have literally jumped in recent weeks in the urban community of Dunkirk (485 cases per 100,000 inhabitants) and in the community of municipalities of Hauts-de-Flandre (424 cases per 100,000 inhabitants).

By way of comparison, that of the European Metropolis of Lille (MEL) is 175.5 and the national average is 241.

The British variant affects between 50 and 68% of positive cases

When PCR tests are carried out, the ARS requests that the coronavirus variants be systematically searched for in order to be able to estimate their circulation.

The results of the tests carried out on Tuesday and Wednesday in the Dunkirk and Gravelines sectors are edifying.

In Dunkirk, out of 1,367 PCR tests carried out, 172 tests were positive, i.e. a positivity rate of 12.58%.

Worse, 68% of patients infected were infected with the British variant.

In Gravelinois, the prevalence of the British variant is lower but the analysis is based on a lower number of tests.

Almost 11% of the 305 tests were positive and half of the patients were infected with the British variant.

A finding that pushes the ARS to organize, as of next week, “an exceptional screening campaign” and the establishment of “anti-covid” mediators.

This device should allow "in the same place and at the same time to carry out tests, carry out contact tracing and deliver messages of prevention and fight against Covid-19", explains the ARS.

Our file on the coronavirus

On the reasons for the strong presence of the British variant on the northern coast,

20 Minutes

questioned the regional office of Public Health France.

Should we see a link between the proximity of this territory to the British border?

In this case, why is such a phenomenon not observed near Calais and Boulogne-sur-Mer?

SPF has yet to respond.

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  • Dunkirk

  • Lille

  • Covid 19

  • Coronavirus

  • Health