This is in response to a new wave of Covid-19-related hospitalizations.
For several weeks, the Grand Est region has been facing an intensification of viral circulation. Faced with the increasing pressure on our regional health care system, the Director General of the ARS Grand Est asks, this Friday, December 10, 2021, all public and private institutions in the region, to reactivate their internal mobilization plan “White Plan” and to use in a coordinated manner all the levers at their disposal.
240 hospitalized patients
The intensification of viral circulation in the Grand Est region continued during week 48 (November 29 to December 5) in all departments of the region. 24,664 new Covid-19 cases were diagnosed compared to 17,255 the previous week (+ 43%). The incidence rate now reaches 447 / 100,000 inhabitants, equivalent to the epidemic peak of the 2ᵉ wave in fall 2020. All age groups are affected. As a consequence of this intense circulation of the virus, hospitalizations for COVID continue to increase sharply including in critical care where 240 patients are now hospitalized, up 50% in one week.
Exceptional health situation
In this context, the generalized reactivation of white plans gives the directors of establishments, in conjunction with their medical community, and in a concerted manner with all the public and private health establishments in the same territory within the framework of a territorial action plan, the possibility of immediately mobilizing all the resources at their coordinated disposal in the event of an influx of patients or to deal with an exceptional health situation: increase bed capacity for Covid-19 patients, if necessary by prioritizing activities and deprogramming non-priority activities in a manner, and reorganize staff schedules to ensure continuity of care.
The Regional Health Agency initiates, leads and monitors these operational territorial organization plans to coordinate this work on a territory-by-territory basis. The aim is to:
- implementing the graduated territorial strategy for the care of COVID-19 and non-COVID patients, taking care to adapt the pathways, in conjunction with the other players, city professionals and medico-social players,
- Implementing the rearmament plan for resuscitation capacities,
- guarantee the mobilization of medical and paramedical teams to ensure patient care (redeployment of professionals, training of reinforcements, etc.)
- ensure that the necessary materials and equipment are available.
In order to face this new wave of hospitalization linked to the Covid, the ARS, with all its partners, is implementing a collective and united response on the territory in order to guarantee equal access to care for the entire population.
The ARS wishes to remind that the activation of the white plan should not lead to the renunciation of care and invites in particular people suffering from a chronic disease requiring regular care to consult if necessary.
The ARS Grand Est expresses its thanks and appreciation to all health professionals and institutions for their renewed mobilization in this extremely difficult period.
Faced with the active circulation of the virus, let us continue to apply the barrier gestures:
- Wearing a mask in all places where it is mandatory and / or when the recommended distance from the person next to you cannot be respected. Or in the presence of fragile people.
- Ventilation of closed spaces
- Wash your hands,
- in case of symptoms, consult your doctor immediately, preventive isolation is recommended