In a context of epidemic resumption for several weeks, health professionals underline the increase in serious forms of the disease, and recommend resuming barrier gestures.
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Are we at the start of a new wave of Covid-19? The rise in contamination continues: around 60,000 cases per day over the past seven days. What worries epidemiologists and health professionals is the increase in serious illnesses. Public Health France has noted in recent days an increase in admissions to intensive care units. Their number is increasing in Brittany, Normandy, Grand Est, Paca and Occitanie. It had been weeks since such an increase had happened.
“On June 21, there were 14,410 Covid-19 patients hospitalized, including 855 in critical care. This week, we have a 12% increase in critical care patients.”
Delphine Viriot, Public Health Franceat franceinfo
Why such an increase? According to epidemiologists, this is not because the new circulating subvariants of Omicron, in particular BA5, are more dangerous, but because of a mechanical effect. More contamination means more serious illnesses. Isabelle Bonmarin, from Santé Publique France, therefore calls for the return of barrier gestures, which have been largely abandoned in recent months by the French: “We are in a period when the summer festivals, the sales start. It is an accumulation of risky situations, in which it is imperative to wear the mask. We are in a resumption of the circulation of the virus, it is necessary try to control it as much as possible.”
She also advises to wash your hands very often and to stop kissing and shaking hands.