Covid-19 cases have stopped decreasing in Picardy. Worse, they have been increasing since the beginning of June according to figures from Public Health France. In the Somme, contamination reached 200 cases per 100,000 inhabitants against 175 cases last week. Same trend in Oise and Aisne.
A 7th wave this summer?
This resumption of the epidemic interrupts a steady decrease in contamination since April. The curve initially stagnated before increasing slightly. The heightened alert threshold, which corresponds to 150 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, was ultimately not reached. The increase in contamination is explained by the two new variants BA4 and BA5, potentially more contagious according to scientists.
Should we therefore speak of a 7th wave? The figures are still too low to confirm this. Especially since these two new strains of the virus are already present in Portugal. According to Santé Publique France, the Iberian country has not experienced an epidemic resumption, as was the case with Omicron.
In the Somme, this tremor of contamination is felt very little in hospitals. Around 175 people have been taken care of in the department since the beginning of the month. A dozen in intensive care.