France: cases of the delta variant of Covid-19 worry in the Landes

The circulation of Covid-19, globally reduced, is on the rise again in part of France, in particular in Occitanie and New Aquitaine.

Here, in a test center in Bordeaux, May 23, 2021. AFP - PHILIPPE LOPEZ

Text by: RFI Follow

3 min

National epidemic indicators continue to be green.

However, the delta variant (formerly “Indian”), which is said to be more transmissible, is a source of concern.

Cases imported from India, the United Kingdom and Switzerland have been spotted, but it is the few “clusters” unrelated to foreign countries that are particularly intriguing, in New Aquitaine in particular.

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In France, the next step in reducing restrictive measures is scheduled for Wednesday, June 9.

With 7,500 new daily cases on average in recent days, the circulation of the virus is globally reduced.

But it seems to be on the rise again in the south of France. 

About fifty cases

In the Landes department, in southwestern France, around fifty cases of the delta variant, confirmed or suspected, have been spotted.

The Regional Health Agency has identified 31 proven cases, to which it adds "about

twenty others

 " on the basis of an estimate because "

the positive cases for Covid-19 did not all give rise to the use of the method for sequencing to identify the

 »Delta

variant

.

► To read also: Covid: how to detect the Indian variant in France?

They are grouped together in about fifteen sources of contamination, in particular family, according to the Regional Health Agency of Nouvelle-Aquitaine.

The first case detected, last week, had no link with the foreigner, which suggests a certain spread of the variant in the area.

In the Landes department, the incidence rate has increased by 35% in less than three weeks.

It is difficult to say at this stage whether the Delta variant, suspected of being more transmissible, is responsible for this evolution. 

Screening tests

Five other episodes of at least one case of the delta variant and having no link with a foreign country have been identified elsewhere in France, in particular in Ile-de-France. 

It therefore circulates, at least locally.

There is nothing to exclude that it is not more present on the territory because it can easily pass under the radar if its diffusion is weak.

In a few days, the so-called screening PCR tests, intended to detect the variants, will be able to identify the mutations of the Delta variant.

These tests are carried out on half of the positive samples for the coronavirus.

We will then have a more precise idea of ​​its circulation.

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  • France

  • Coronavirus

  • Health and medicine