On Tuesday, France had one of the largest coronavirus outbreaks in its history, with over 47,000 cases reported in only 24 hours, and this before the more transmissible Omicron variety spreads. The increase in the number of people eligible for the vaccination booster has already allowed for the scheduling of 4 million appointments.
 |
| [COVID in France] |
It's not something you get used to. Even in the sixth wave of Covid, and after over two years of crises, seeing the curve grow is still shocking. More than 47,000 contaminations were registered in 24 hours on Tuesday, compared to 37,000 on Saturday and 17,000 the week before. "On the front lines of the pandemic, the situation is deteriorating," said Minister of Health Olivier Véran in front of the lawmakers.
As a variety thought to be exceptionally transmissible knocks on the door of Europe, the pandemic's worldwide hotspot, the wave is breaking. On Sunday, a positive case of Omicron infection was discovered in Reunion, and "additional instances might be discovered in the following hours" in France, according to the ministry.
More patients in critical care
With over 30,000 contaminations every day, the weekly average of positive cases could be "more than the top of the third wave by the end of the week if we followed this dynamic of + 60% per week," he explained. This average was roughly 35,000 instances in early April. When the second confinement began a year ago, it was close to 48,000. The number of patients in critical care is also beginning to grow, with 1,824 people in critical care on Tuesday, up 24% from the previous week.
There was "no restriction or curfew" yesterday, as Olivier Véran emphasized when launching the big vaccination booster campaign last Thursday. With immunizations and the health pass, the government aims to break the trend. He claims there are "a lot fewer major instances, hospitalizations, and fatalities."
7.2 millions recalls made
During the deadliest week of the second and third waves, there were 5,000 and then 6,000 critical care Covid beds occupied, respectively. The peak of the fourth wave, which occurred near the end of the summer, was over 2,000.
With the vaccination booster, the government is attempting to build a dike in the face of the tsunami. Last week, 2 million booster shots were administered, up 500,000 from the week before, bringing the total number of revaccinations to 7.2 million.
The French raced to online reservation platforms after the news on Thursday, November 25 that the booster will be available to all adults starting the fifth month after the completion of the original immunization schedule. The administration hoped to revaccinate 19 million adults by January 15 if at all feasible.
4 millon meetings since Thursday
In only four days, 1 million people in this target group had received their third medication, with 4 million appointments set. People are rushing to discover a niche online on a daily basis. Over 65s, who only have until December 15 to have a third dosage administered to extend the validity of their health pass, have already been revaccinated at a rate of more than 80%. (5.4 million booster shots). The remaining 20% will have to collaborate in order to get inoculated in two weeks.
The Ministry of Health claims to be "certain" that the 10 million recall goal will be met by the end of the week.
The protection against the risk of serious disease is boosted by 10 with a booster dosage, according to Jean-François Delfraissy, head of the Scientific Council. According to a Health Ministry report issued on Friday, a person aged 60 to 79 has a 94 percent lower chance of arriving in critical care after completing their initial immunization, but after six months, that shield becomes less protective, with just an 82 percent decrease in risk. It jumps to 94 percent nearly immediately after the recall.
Furthermore, among adults, the expansion of first immunization coverage continues at a sluggish pace, with 160,000 first doses administered last week. The High Authority for Health suggested on Tuesday that at least 364,000 children aged 5 to 11 who are at risk of severe form be vaccinated as soon as possible. For this age range, she did not support generalization. The administration, on the other hand, is contemplating it for the start of next year.