If we had got used to the regular points of Olivier Véran on the Covid, the new Minister of Health, spoke less on this subject. And for good reason: the health situation has been rather calm since this summer. But will it last?
According to latest epidemic weekly update of Public Health France, SARS-CoV-2 circulation is on the rise again after several weeks of improvement. “The increase being mainly carried by those under 20”, is it specified in the bulletin. In addition, hospital indicators continue to decline in most regions.
In a press briefing on Friday, September 16, Isabelle Parent (Infectious Diseases Department at Public Health France) confirmed that we observe “a more active circulation of the virus since the start of the school year”, with an incidence that increases especially in children as well asa higher risk of reinfections. “The further we move away from a first episode, the more the risk of infection increases”, she pointed out. The reassuring point being that the situation is “very stable” with regard to the circulation of variants. “Since the beginning of summer BA5 remains largely in the majority“, and she continued. “The most likely is that we stay on the same line of variants, even if – the virus never completely disappears between two waves – the risk that a variant appears and escapes Acquired Immunity is not excluded. .”
“It is too early to speak of 8e vague” but “we must remain vigilant”
This Monday, September 19, François Braun, Minister of Health, was questioned about the health situation by our colleagues from France Inter. His conclusion: “For ten days, we have seen an upward recovery in the indicators: the R has risen above 1 (so one person infects more than one, editor’s note) and the incidence rate is greater than 200 per 100,000 inhabitants”, he described. However, it is “too early” to speak of 8e vague according to the minister: “We are monitoring this every day, we are on armed vigilance against this 8e wave, which scientists say is going to happen.”
And as always since the start of the pandemic, François Braun called for being “humble”. “Certainly, there is no new variant, we know the BA.5 which is currently circulating, but we must remain vigilant.”
.@FrcsBraun on the rise in Covid cases: “It is too early to say that it is already the start of the eighth wave, but the indicators are on the rise” #le7930interpic.twitter.com/1MkOafKCwO
– France Inter (@franceinter) September 19, 2022
Barrier gestures, vaccination: where are we headed?
While the mask is no longer compulsory in transport, at work or in public places, could the government take health measures soon? Currently no. But with common sense, the Minister of Health pointed out that “Barrier gestures are necessary when the virus increases, they are also useful to protect against other contagious winter diseases, such as the flu or bronchiolitis, which reminds, the minister, also kills.”
As for the vaccination campaign, for the moment the HAS wishes to include the same target people, that is to say the over 60s and the most fragile, as well as caregivers and relatives of fragile people. So there is no question of asking a healthy 40-year-old to get vaccinated. But… “we would be ready to expand if the scientists asked for it”commented François Braun. “Of course, if the epidemic exploded, I would question the HAS again.”
Remember that the new bivalent vaccines that are coming – the new Pfizer and the new Moderna – (which target the original strain and Omicron) have been validated at the level of the United States and Europe. They have already been ordered and the HAS recommendation should follow very soon.
