Covid: the return? In any case, the figures for the last few weeks clearly show a acceleration of SARS-CoV-2 circulation. In the past week, incidence and positivity rates have increased across all age groups. The R is now 1.3 and the incidence rate has exceeded 500,000 cases per 100,000 inhabitants.
This rebound worries the government, which fears a “triple epidemic“Covid-Flu-Bronchiolitis. And for good reason: if the cases multiply for each of the pathologies, this will mathematically clutter the hospital services, already under tension.
After Elisabeth Borne’s solemn appeal to wear a mask in transport, François Braun repeated the same message on Sunday on BFM TV, even stressing that he would not hesitate to make it compulsory again if necessary. “My arm will not shake if the obligation has to be decided.”
François Braun, Minister of Health on wearing a mask: “My arm will not shake if we have to decide on the obligation” pic.twitter.com/pOv8bH9M7l
— BFMTV (@BFMTV) December 4, 2022
The Committee for monitoring and anticipating health risks (the covarswhich replaced the scientific council) via its President Brigitte Autran has also multiplied media interventions for the past few days to ask to reinforce the wearing of masks, but also more generally barrier gestures and vaccination.
“People who are at risk of a serious form, those over 60, can also have recourse to early treatment, which makes it possible to prevent 75% of serious forms and 90% of deaths, she explained Sunday, December 4 at the JDD, in reference to the antiviral Paxlovid. We have all the means to fight and we must therefore use them. This growing epidemic must alert the French, that they go and get vaccinated. It does not spare the question of the mask, but the mask is not enough.
Between responsibility and obligation
If the Minister of Health has mentioned the obligation, remains that for the moment, the government appeals to the responsibility of the French. And in fact: we are no longer in the health emergency law so the government can no longer impose health restrictions so easily. THE August 4 press release of the Prime Minister made it clear: “The measures that these two regimes authorized (confinement, curfew, limitation of movement, closure of establishments, obligation to wear a mask, sanitary pass, etc.) can no longer be taken, without the passage of a new law.” So via a vote of the deputies in the Assembly which would require obtaining a majority.
The other solution would be to publish a decree through the Council of State, not necessarily favorable… Indeed, itthis one should ensure that restrictions do not unduly impair freedoms.
This morning on France Info, Brigitte Autran summed it up this way : “the position of Covars is that we must reinforce the wearing of masks in all closed, poorly ventilated places, with heavy human traffic. We must put them back in transport and in very crowded stores, but the compulsory nature is a decision that must be made by politicians.
In the meantime, we remind you of the recommendations:
- Wear a mask in crowded places and especially when you are at risk of a severe form.
- To get vaccinated, priority when you are fragile (over 60, pregnant women, people with pathologies). Read our article Covid Vaccination: for whom? what deadline?
- Get tested if you have symptoms and isolate themselves if they test positive. Read our article Positive Covid test: isolation, what to do?
- Ask for preventive treatment (Paxlovid) from your GP because it protects against severe forms when you are at risk.
