This is the "first increase for two months": 2.52 million PCR and antigen screenings were validated between March 7 and 13, up 8% compared to the previous week, notes the Statistics Department (Drees ) in a press release.
Following the fifth epidemic wave, the demand for tests had increased from November to early January, peaking at nearly 12 million with the start of the school year following the Christmas holidays.
The rebound observed concerned all age groups, but it was "particularly driven by the youngest" last week, in particular children and adolescents under 16 (+ 21%).
While most of the anti-Covid restrictions were lifted on Monday, the strong and long fifth wave of the epidemic, which was clearly coming down in mid-March, has been on the rise for several days.
Contaminations reached 74,912 on Wednesday, on a daily average over seven days, a level which had not been recorded since February 22.
The disease claimed 145 people in 24 hours in hospitals on Wednesday, for a total death toll of 140,613 in France since the start of the pandemic more than two years ago.
© 2022 AFP