These three positive cases in Omicron, after a first on Reunion Island, were detected in Ile-de-France, Haut-Rhin and Vendée, each time in travelers returning from Africa, announced regional health agencies (ARS).

"We must have an attitude of anticipation vis-à-vis this virus but let's not get confused, the real enemy is the fifth wave with the Delta variant", the president tempered in the morning of the Scientific Council which guides the government, Jean-François Delfraissy, on BFMTV.

The first case, in Ile-de-France, concerns a man returning from a stay in Nigeria, not vaccinated against Covid and aged 50 to 60 years.

He was not showing symptoms at the time of the test, according to the ARS.

His wife, who accompanied him on this trip and is also not vaccinated, has tested positive for Covid-19 and sequencing is underway to verify if it is also the Omicron variant.

The entourage was tested and placed in solitary confinement.

Uncertainties

The traveler, who lives in Seine-et-Marne, tested positive for Covid when he got off the plane on November 25.

He has remained in solitary confinement at his home with his wife since their arrival in the territory given the positive test result.

The second case, detected in the Haut-Rhin, concerns a woman, aged 40 to 50 years and presenting a "complete vaccination schedule", according to the ARS of the Grand Est.

She had tested positive after returning from a trip to South Africa and placed in solitary confinement, before sequencing revealed the nature of the variant.

Covid-19: the incidence in France AFP

"Few of the risky contacts have been identified", specifies the ARS.

Finally, the third case, in Vendée, is a woman who returned on November 25 from a trip to South Africa, according to ARS Pays de la Loire.

This woman, who had received her second dose of vaccine in June, is in "perfect health" and has suffered "no symptoms", according to the ARS, which counts "five cases of family contact" currently isolated.

Omicron was first spotted in November in Botswana and South Africa, which made the announcement on November 25.

At this stage, it is present in around thirty countries on all continents.

The new variant has sent a wave of panic blowing across the world, but it's too early to say what impact it will have on the pandemic, experts agree.

Pay "all attention"

On paper, the unprecedented number of mutations it contains leads to fears that it is more transmissible and more resistant to vaccines.

But that remains to be confirmed and it is not known whether he is able to replace Delta.

According to Professor Delfraissy, Omicron will settle in France "rather in 2022 or at the end of January 2022, which gives us time to prepare".

Coronavirus: the situation in France Simon MALFATTO AFP

In the meantime, "we are in the middle of the fifth wave linked to the Delta variant," he insisted.

This wave is reflected in a clear deterioration of the indicators.

Nearly 50,000 cases were recorded on Wednesday, for a daily 7-day average of 34,500, against less than 6,000 a month earlier.

More worryingly, this increase is reflected in the hospital.

10,500 Covid patients are currently hospitalized in France, including 1,900 in critical care services, against 6,600 and 1,000 a month earlier.

To stem the increase, Professor Delfraissy insisted on the booster dose of the vaccine, now open to all adults, and on barrier measures.

"Christmas is not in danger if we are all careful, with more telework and fewer gatherings", he wanted to reassure.

© 2021 AFP