While the Covid-19 epidemic is experiencing a slight rebound in France, this infectious disease specialist believes that the population without risk can resume “an almost normal life” but that the others must keep the mask indoors.
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“We must remain vigilant, Covid-19 contaminations are increasing again, with an acceleration over the past few days, even if, in the hospital, the situation remains good”, Professor Bruno Mégarbane told franceinfo this Sunday, as the government lifts a number of health restrictions. On Monday March 14, the vaccination pass will be suspended, as will the health protocols at school and in companies, thus putting an end to the wearing of masks everywhere except in public transport and in medical and medico-social establishments.
According to the head of the intensive care unit at the Lariboisière hospital in Paris, “excellent vaccination coverage” of the population leaves “to hope” that the lifting of restrictions “will not be accompanied by a hospital rebound” but that will not prevent the epidemic “to continue and progress”. Bruno Mégarbane thus considered that it was necessary to expect “very regular outbreaks, maybe every 3 or 4 months, rather than a single fall outbreak”.
This is why he felt that the risk-free population could “maybe resume an almost normal life”but that very old or immunocompromised people will have to keep the mask “mainly in closed spaces, in the event of a gathering, and be extremely careful”. “There is always a danger also in non-vaccinated people and in vaccinated immunocompromised people”he also warned, while the BA.2 sub-variant, “no more virulent” that what we have already known, seems to cause only “minor asymptomatic forms”from “sorts of colds”in vaccinated individuals.
Finally, concerning the possibility of receiving a fourth dose for people over 80 and immunocompromised people, as announced by Prime Minister Jean Castex on Saturday March 12, Professor Bruno Mégarbane assured that this was going in the right direction. “Even if the BA.2 variant is not more virulent, it is better not to run any risk and to boost the immunity of the oldest people or those most at risk”he said, adding that “the risk of being contaminated increases by 50% three months after the vaccine dose or a natural infection”.