Published on
Updated
Reading 3 mins.
While the number of Covid-19 contaminations is rising again in France, the government is calling on the population to be careful and recommending three things: wear a mask in public transport, get vaccinated against the flu and Covid-19 and respect barrier gestures.
The drop in temperatures is accompanied by an upsurge in cases of Covid-19, but also of all seasonal viral infections. As Christmas and family gatherings approach, the government recalls the rules to be followed to limit the impact of these winter viruses on the population and on the public hospital already under strain.
A “solemn appeal” to wear a mask in transport
“The virus has not disappeared, the epidemic strikes again” first recalled Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne, about the Covid-19. She therefore launched a “solemn appeal“to wear a surgical mask in transport, but also to respect barrier gestures”key to reversing the epidemic“.”Our duty is to help caregivers“, already faced with epidemics of influenza and bronchiolitis, she recalled.
“The idea is to give advice that is both tenable and useful, without alarmism“underlines Dr. Gérald Kierzek, emergency doctor and medical director of Doctissimo.Protecting yourself in transport, if you are at risk, that’s good but it requires an FFP2 mask, it must be said again. The surgical mask is only used for sick people, it does not protect” reminds the doctor.
Faced with epidemics of bronchiolitis, influenza and Covid-19, let us all be vigilant.
Let’s stay mobilized, apply barrier gestures, get vaccinated.
The French have always answered the call of responsibility, I have no doubt that they will do so again. pic.twitter.com/pMfqzJjl30— Elisabeth BORNE (@Elisabeth_Borne) November 29, 2022
Epidemics are gaining ground
If the head of government is sounding the alarm, it is because the hospital is in crisis, overwhelmed by epidemics of bronchiolitis and flu.
According to the weekly bulletin of Public Health France on the situation of the flu in France, we are witnessing a transition to the epidemic stage in the regions of Brittany and Normandy, and in the pre-epidemic phase for the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes and Grand Est regions. , Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, Centre-Val de Loire, Hauts-de-France and Île-de-France. Regarding Covid-19, SPF notes an increase in the incidence but also in new hospitalizations and admissions to critical care.
Insufficient vaccination rates
Another way to fight these epidemics is to get vaccinated. However, recalled the Ministry of Health, the rates of vaccinations against influenza and Covid-19 are “insufficient”. Indeed, for the moment, only two million people had received a booster shot against Covid-19 since the launch of the booster campaign on October 3 with bivalent vaccines, with only 21% of those over 80 correctly protected. .
For the flu, whose vaccination campaign began on October 18, the figures are down 13% compared to last year, with five million vaccines reimbursed by Medicare on November 20.
A fifth dose if needed
“We have a very significant margin of progress” underlined the Ministry of Health. He wants a “total mobilization” of all the people concerned: the over 60s, the immunocompromised, their relatives and health professionals.
The ministry goes further by insisting that “people over 60 whose last infection or dose was more than six months ago (three months for those over 80) can and should have a 5th dose”insisted the ministry.
“It is indeed necessary to target the most fragile, as recommended by the High Authority for Health, by vaccination” confirms Gérald Kierzek. “And get vaccinated against both the flu and the Covid. The target people are pretty much the same“.