Olivier Véran has been Minister of Health since February 2020. -

Jacques Witt / SIPA

Olivier Véran confirmed this Thursday the tense situation in several regions: Les Hauts-de-France, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur and Ile-de-France.

The threshold of 4,000 coronavirus patients in intensive care was again exceeded, said the minister during his weekly update on the epidemic.

This is a first since the end of 2020. However, the situation remains “very heterogeneous” from one region and from one department to another, he added.

"Hospital pressure will continue to rise," also indicated the minister, who assured that in the face of this, the government mobilized the health system as much as possible.

"If the epidemic continues at this level and at this rate […], then we would take all the necessary measures" to curb contamination, also reaffirmed Olivier Véran.

An Ile-de-France resident admitted to intensive care every 12 minutes

In the latter, "the incidence rate reaches 350 cases per 100,000 inhabitants each week, and exceeds 400 in Val-de-Marne and Seine-Saint-Denis".

Every 12 minutes, a Francilien is admitted to intensive care in Ile-de-France.

"If the pace continues to be the same, we will exceed 1,500 covid patients before the end of March in intensive care, which corresponds to a critical threshold," warns Olivier Véran.

French health authorities are preparing to transfer patients with Covid-19 from Ile-de-France to other regions, due to the particularly tense situation in hospitals in this region, the Minister of Health announced on Thursday. Olivier Véran.

"We are preparing major transfers of patients to other regions, which could take place as early as this weekend: we are talking about dozens, even hundreds of patients who could be evacuated from Ile-de-France to others. hospitals […] of the national territory ”, declared the minister during a press conference.

Vaccination with AstraZeneca continues

In addition, Olivier Véran indicated that despite the suspension of vaccination with AstraZeneca in three countries, France intends to continue it.

There is "no need to suspend" vaccination with AstraZeneca in France, said the Minister of Health.

"The benefit of vaccination is considered greater than the risk at this stage," said Olivier Véran at a press conference.

Denmark, Norway and Iceland have taken the opposite decision due to fears of blood clots, but this risk is statistically no greater in patients vaccinated with AstraZeneca than in others, stressed the health Minister.

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  • Covid 19

  • Coronavirus

  • epidemic

  • Olivier Véran

  • Health