The number of deaths and hospitalizations in 24 hours displayed by Public Health France at the end of the week was distorted. Many Internet users question the legitimacy of the health agency.
- Via the hashtag #santepubliquefrance, Internet users criticize the health agency and cry conspiracy.
123 additional deaths in 24 hours and 403 new hospitalizations linked to Covid-19. These figures were announced last Friday by Santé Publique France, the national public health agency under the supervision of the Ministry of Health. The day before, these indicators were much lower: 50 deaths and 247 new hospitalizations. A sudden and surprising increase. But in reality, this daily balance sheet was distorted. A hospital in Essonne, in Île-de-France, transmitted that same day nearly 240 files of patients hospitalized in recent months. They have been added to the daily balance sheet.
Figures that reflect new statements
An explanation is given on the website of the dynamic cartographic observatory, Géodes, in charge of publishing the main health indicators: “The hospital indicators for September 18, 2020, presented by date of declaration, show a sudden increase in this department. This impact is also visible at a regional and national level. This increase in the number of people hospitalized, declared on September 18 by this establishment does not reflect new hospitalizations but new declarations.
47 deaths linked to Covid-19
Immediately, the Ministry of Health tried to explain itself by pointing a “data catch-up” regarding “237 admission files including 76 deaths”. In other words, the Essonne hospital declared the deaths last Friday, but they dated from previous weeks or months. Some had even taken place in July. Of the 123 deaths announced by Santé Publique France, the 76 deaths declared by this health establishment must therefore be subtracted. And finally, there was no sudden increase: 47 dead. This is even a slight decrease compared to the 50 declared for Thursday, September 17.
Critics rise on Twitter
Despite these explanations, criticisms fuse on the web, in particular on the social network Twitter. Via the hashtag #santepubliquefrance, many Internet users criticize the health agency and cry conspiracy. Others try to reassure.
❌ even in the communication of “official” figures #PublicHealthFrance tangles the brushes. And us with.
Yesterday was therefore 47 dead (too many) over 24 hours and not 123. We, we, apologize.
Deliberate will of the State to scare or notorious incompetence ❓— @LesinfirmieresEncolere ???? (@Lesinfirmieres1) September 19, 2020
This additional “quack” of #PublicHealthFrance participates in the ruin of an impossible sincerity of the public authorities and contributes to the dismantling of an essential relationship of trust in order to act collectively with regard to the epidemic. https://t.co/CAIFrNF0Jd
— Frederic BONNIER (@f_bonnier) September 19, 2020
#PublicHealthFrance reported on Friday 123 nvx deaths from the #Covid in 24 hours But 76 of them are linked to a late transmission of data by a hospital in Essonne. Some go back two months In reality the number is 47 deaths according to #BFMhttps://t.co/ZpUpXTwRLt
— ???? RositaBanana (@LalobaRose) September 19, 2020
A quack that goes wrong, especially since the figures are difficult to access since September 10. They are given without any explanation on the Public Health France site, which malfunctions quite regularly. Only the weekly reports persist. A fact that surprises some citizens because, at the height of the Covid-19 crisis, a daily report was given by Jérôme Salomon, the Director General of Health. The televised appointment was set for 7 p.m., for the press conference which reported on the number of cases, deaths, people in intensive care, etc. A habit that some regret, especially in this period of return and resurgence of patients tested positive for Covid-19.
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