Less than three weeks before Christmas, will France take new measures in the face of the coronavirus pandemic? The government does not rule out announcing restrictions, following the Health Defense Council which is to take place on Monday. It is “see if further action is required”, Prime Minister Jean Castex said on Thursday, so as not to be overwhelmed by the fifth wave and faced with the arrival of the Omicron variant, the dangerousness of which is still unknown. The incidence rates in children are a particular source of concern and the issue of vaccination of 5-11 year olds is on the agenda of the Defense Council.
Vaccination of the children in question
According to health authorities, the incidence rate in France is now higher than the peak of the fourth wave (at 388 cases per 100,000 inhabitants in France on December 1 against 247 at the height of the fourth wave, mid-August) and this rate is particularly high in children 6 to 10 years old (to 664.8 cases per 100,000 as of November 22).
For the moment, the High Authority of Health recommends the vaccination of the most fragile children of 5-11 years, which should be opened “from the middle to the end of December”Health Minister Olivier Véran said on Friday. For everyone else it will come “probably at the beginning of January, gradually and on an optional basis” he had announced.
But things could change. In any case, the subject will be on the program of the Health Defense Council according to a document from the Ministry of Health consulted by AFP. In this document presented Friday to representatives of hospitals, clinics and liberal caregivers, the ministry affirms that “the precise schedule for the vaccination of 5-11 year olds will be specified at the end of the Council meeting on December 6” and adds that “the opening of vaccination to all children” of this age group is expected “early January 2022”. To date, only Pfizer’s anti-Covid vaccine has received approval from the European Medicines Agency for a “for use in children 5 to 11 years old”.
A “dizzying” 5th wave and the arrival of the Omicron variant
Another indicator taken into account by the authorities, the Ministry of Health announced on Saturday that 16 cases of the Omicron variant were detected in France. The dangerousness of the Omicron variant is still unknown. It is also too early to know whether it will partially resist current vaccines.
The 5th wave of the coronavirus, largely dominated by the Delta variant of Covid-19 for the moment, causes in any case “a dizzying curve” government spokesman Gabriel Attal said. This fifth wave in fact results in a clear deterioration of indicators. On Saturday, 51,624 cases were identified in 24 hours, against less than 6,000 a month earlier.
An increase which also has repercussions on the hospital, since some 11,340 Covid patients are currently hospitalized in France, including 2,037 in critical care services, against around 6,700 and 1,100 a month earlier. A patient is admitted to intensive care every ten minutes, underlined Friday the Minister of Health Olivier Véran.
Across France, several hospitals have reactivated their “white plan”, which notably enables the mobilization of additional resources in order to maintain optimal patient care. “This important decision was taken, after discussions in the crisis unit, in view of the evolution of the epidemic situation in the Lille metropolitan area”, for example explained the Lille University Hospital to AFP.
Measures elsewhere in Europe
Some of our neighbors have already announced measures, sometimes drastic. THE’Germany will thus impose restrictions on unvaccinated, by preventing them from accessing non-essential shops, restaurants, places of culture or leisure. The government ofIreland Also announced Friday the implementation of new restrictions, including the closure of nightclubs and the return of social distancing in pubs, restaurants and hotels, with room service only and six people maximum per table. The Belgium meanwhile announced Friday that kindergartens and primary schools would close their doors one week in advance for Christmas holidays.
In France, “we will, as always, with pragmatism, proportion, and with the same philosophy, an assessment of the situation and the answers to be provided”, said the head of state Emmanuel Macron on Friday from Dubai. The government is banking on two weapons to defend itself: “We must continue to vaccinate” and to “respect barrier gestures”, pleaded Friday Emmanuel Macron. The bar of 10 million people who received their booster dose of the coronavirus vaccine was crossed on Saturday evening and the government ensures that the eligible population – those over 18 – will not miss doses.