September also marks the return of Covid-19 to France. While the circulation of the virus had increased this summer due to tourism and festive events, the start of the school year was shaping up to be a favorable time for the spread of the virus in schools, offices and public transport.
It is on this occasion that the national agency Public Health France updated Wednesday September 20 its latest information bulletin concerning the evolution of the epidemic for the week of September 11 to 17.
A summary of the evolution of treatment for suspected Covid-19, and not cases testing positive for this coronavirus. Despite everything, an observation emerges that calls for vigilance: two weeks after the start of the school year, these types of care are increasing among children.
Cases of Covid-19 especially among those under 15 years old
To give some visibility to the consequences of the start of the school year on the spread of the virus, driven by the emergence of a new variant, Santé Publique France is based on a health surveillance system for emergencies and deaths (SURSAUD)thus centralizing three indicators: the activity of emergency services, care by SOS Médecins and the number of deaths recorded by doctors and INSEE.
Thus, for this second week of the start of the school year in mainland France, care linked to suspected Covid-19 is “on the rise among those under 75 in SOS Médecins associations and among 2-14 year olds in emergency rooms”. notes the summary from Santé Publique France.
After a first week of September already on the rise for “all age groups”, the health authorities this time note a more precise increase in the number of visits to emergency departments for suspected Covid-19 in children aged 2 to 14 years old : 212 supported from September 11 to 17, compared to 182 a week before, an increase of 16%.
An observation shared by the SOS Médecins association, which also notes an overall increase in medical procedures for suspected Covid of 19% between these two periods, following another increase of 17% seven days earlier. Here again, SOS Médecins observes that this primarily concerns the youngestwith “+61% among children and +15% among 15-74 year olds”.
A worrying context of increase in respiratory diseases
A phenomenon which thus spares the oldest French people: the health authorities note that the increase in care linked to Covid-19 affects all age groups “with the exception of those 75 and over”. Other good news: the Rugby World Cup in France does not seem to worsen the situation, with Santé Publique France reporting “no unusual variation in the indicators monitored”.
Other factors, however, risk worsening the management of Covid-19 cases among younger people. In addition to an increase in treatment for allergies for all ages, the start of the school year has also caused a proliferation of most of the diseases monitored among children, including respiratory pathologies.
These are on the rise, particularly in emergencies: whether it is cases of respiratory failure and allergies among 2-14 year olds (+54% and +27% respectively), or even cases of asthma and illnesses. ears, nose and throat in those under 15 (+71% and +42% respectively). Trends that are also observed at SOS Médecins.
We also find more cases of bronchiolitis in children under 2 years old: +84% in hospitals, and +115% for SOS Médecins. A seasonal respiratory disease which, with the flu, had already complicated the management of Covid-19 cases last winter.