(Paris) The number of cases of infection with the Omicron variant detected in France has reached 12, according to the latest report updated Friday evening by the health authorities.
“At 4 pm (9 am EST), three 3 new confirmed cases of infection with the Omicron variant were reported in France,” indicates on its website the Public Health Agency France.
France now has 12 confirmed cases of infection with the Omicron variant.
So far 9 cases had been detected in France in the following six territories: Réunion, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, Île-de-France, Pays de la Loire and Grand Est region.
“As soon as the results of the RT-PCR tests of the patients were known, and even before the results of the sequencing were obtained, the patients isolated themselves at their homes and the measures for identifying and isolating contact persons at risk have been implemented, ”according to the Directorate General of Health.
First, travelers returning from Africa
After Réunion – an island in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar – the first three cases detected in mainland France were announced on Thursday, in Île-de-France, in Haut-Rhin and in Vendée, each time with travelers returning from Africa.
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.
On paper, the unprecedented number of mutations it contains leads to fears that it is more transmissible and more resistant to vaccines.
But this remains to be confirmed and it is not known whether he is able to replace Delta, currently responsible for a fifth wave of the epidemic in France, which is reflected in a clear deterioration of the indicators.
49,858 cases detected on Friday
As of Friday, 49,858 cases were identified, an average daily over 7 days of 38,890, against less than 6,000 a month earlier.
An increase which also affects the hospital. Some 11,103 COVID-19 patients are currently hospitalized in France, including 2,058 in critical care services, against around 6,600 and 1,000 a month earlier.
A new Health Defense Council will take place on Monday to “see if there is a need to take additional measures,” Prime Minister Jean Castex announced Thursday.