The results of analyzes of wastewater in the first places tested in Moselle did not reveal any trace of coronavirus.

But for the ARS and the hospital sector, these results are a beacon of hope and both expect a new epidemic wave driven by the variants. 

The first results which arouse hope, but also mistrust.

According to the tests carried out since Sunday by the marine firefighters of Marseille in Moselle, there is no trace of the coronavirus in the wastewater of the first places tested, in this case six nursing homes.

A glimmer of hope in this department, where the spread of the Brazilian and South African variants continues to worry health authorities and local politicians.

But this does not prevent the ARS from recalling that the South African variant represents 35% of contaminations in the department, or ten times more than the national average. 

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"When it goes up to the emergency room, it will be in the beds 3-4 days later" 

A mistrust also placed in the hospital.

The general manager of the Metz-Thionville Regional Hospital Center, Marie-Odile Saillard, is also ready to face a new wave linked to variants.

"We don't know exactly how long it will take" for patients with a variant to be admitted to hospital.

Because the variants have changed the situation, points out the specialist.

"With the Chinese strain, we knew more or less: when our laboratories detected cases, we had patients who came to the emergency room eight days later, and to the [intensive care] beds still eight days later. But obviously the executives of reference have changed. "

Currently, Marie-Odile Saillard notes that positive cases for the South African variant go back to laboratories, but not yet beyond.

But she is convinced of it: "when it goes up to the emergency room, it will be in the beds 3-4 days later."

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Consolidated results expected on Friday

In total, around twenty samples of wastewater were taken by the Marseille firefighters in nursing homes, schools or at the heart of the sanitation network.

But the prefecture of Moselle prefers to wait for a new series of samples to communicate the consolidated results for the other sites.

These should be known on Friday.