Bordeaux (AFP)

The spread of Covid-19 marks a "worrying development" in New Aquitaine, a region so far spared from the virus, warns Thursday the Regional Health Agency (ARS), calling on the population to "pull together and apply strictly barrier gestures ".

In a press release, the ARS Nouvelle-Aquitaine identifies 10 clusters (at least three grouped cases), while its previous situation report, Friday, counted only three in this region which had been the least affected in France during the confinement.

Out of these ten homes, only one is in a nursing home in the Dordogne, six, notably in Bordeaux, Brive or Châtellerault, are linked to "private events" such as parties or weddings, and two in Vienne come from an "extended family network".

These cases are due to the “lack of application of barrier gestures”, underlines the ARS, noting that “the season conducive to family reunions and various festivities presents a context favorable to an active resumption of the circulation of the virus in New Aquitaine , region, moreover, very touristy ".

The ARS also says it dreads returning from trips abroad and the gathering of seasonal workers in a very agricultural region, as evidenced by a cluster in Parentis-en-Born (Landes).

The Gironde, the most populous department with its capital Bordeaux, is now in "moderate vulnerability", writes the ARS which notes there an "unfavorable development of health indicators" (number of positive cases, new clusters, increase in activity of SOS doctors, new Covid hospitalizations) as well as a "reduction in the protective measures taken by the population".

"This is a warning signal demonstrating that the situation can change very quickly" in this department, insists the agency.

The number of people admitted to intensive care or intensive care in the region has gone up again, with two additional people since the last point on July 10 (11 in total). Three new deaths were also recorded, bringing the total to 423 among those hospitalized since the start of the epidemic.

All these data show "that it is necessary to regroup and rigorously apply the barrier measures. The population must continue its efforts and establishments, businesses, leisure or tourism structures, organizers of festivities and communities must ensure that the recommendations are applied to people frequenting their place, "asks the ARS.

At the height of the epidemic this spring, New Aquitaine had been very untouched by the virus, to the point of becoming a rear base, its hospitals welcoming patients coming from establishments in Grand Est and Ile de France.

© 2020 AFP