Covid: mask at school, hospitalizations ... Where is the epidemic resumption in France?

Manon Fossat 2:41 p.m., November 3, 2021

DECRYPTION

After several weeks of slowing down, the number of Covid-19 contaminations is on the rise in France, confirms Public Health France.

The incidence rate has increased across the country and hospitalizations are on the rise again.

While the threshold of 50 cases per 100,000 inhabitants has been exceeded in several departments of France, government spokesman Gabriel Attal announced on Wednesday the return of the compulsory mask to primary school in 39 additional departments from Monday.

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Wednesday, the head of the infection control service of Geneva university hospitals assured that this measure was not the main element in the fight against the coronavirus. 

How does immunization coverage work?

"Let's be very clear, we have a resumption of the epidemic in Europe which varies from one country to another and which is particularly important in the United Kingdom. It is generally understandable because we are experiencing the first colds, therefore the return respiratory viruses. We know that the risk of transmission is increased by about 30% during these periods, including for the Covid. So all this was a little expected but basically, everything depends on the vaccination coverage ", has t -he assures. 

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For the epidemiologist, the more the vaccination coverage is optimal, the less the virus is transmitted.

"France, Spain and Portugal are the best examples, while there are quite a few problems in Belgium, Holland and even Eastern Europe, with only 30 to 40% of the population vaccinated" , he continued.

Faced with this epidemic resumption, vaccination therefore remains the solution, with respect for barrier gestures.

"Even if you are vaccinated, you must continue to practice them well and to respect instructions such as the health pass."

Childhood immunization, not a priority

No wonder then at this epidemic resumption according to Didier Pittet, especially since the Delta variant spreads much more quickly and much more easily.

"We knew that we were going to be exposed to an accelerated circulation of the virus. And the Delta Plus variant, which has undergone two or three mutations, is still a little more transmissible. So we are faced with a situation that we have already experienced, but with such an effective and ultimately essential tool: the vaccine. " 

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The epidemiologist has also estimated that the vaccination of 5-11 year olds in France, as is already the case in the United States, is not the priority. "In the United States we have a proportion of children aged 5 to 11 in much poorer health than in our country, with obese or diabetic patients who are at some risk for the disease. But I would say that it is not. not the main element of the fight against the pandemic. Vaccination is certainly the main element, but the vaccination of adults and obviously young people, is much more important than that of children ", assured the professor.

Since the start of the vaccination campaign in France, 76% of the total population has received at least one injection and 74.3% have a complete vaccination schedule.

According to the latest figures released Monday by health authorities, 88% of the adult population has a complete vaccination schedule.