Close to the arrival of summer in France, according to data published by the Ministry of Health, the transmission of covid-19 has doubled in the last 15 days.
According to the report, the number of cases rose from nearly 18,000 daily infections at the end of May to more than 50,000 positive tests announced in the last 24 hours. Santé Publish France, the French health surveillance agency. This represents an increase of approximately 743% recorded as of Friday (17).
At the national level, the incidence rate is about 400 cases per 100,000 people – double the previous week, according to the French agency. The data show that a new wave of Covid-19 has started in the country, mainly caused by the new sub-variants BA.4 and BA.5 of omycron, which are responsible for the recent increase in infections in Portugal.
The trend is similar in other countries on the continent, says epidemiologist Antoine Flahault, director of the Institute for Global Health at the University of Geneva.
The impact on hospitals is still uncertain and the number of patients currently hospitalized and in intensive care units continues to decline in France. French government spokesperson Olivia Grégoire said last week that the government was “on the lookout”.
The two sub-variants of Omicron are between 10% and 15% more contagious, but apparently do not cause any more serious illness than their predecessors.
The next Wednesday (22) Council of Ministers meeting will announce the measures to be continued after the end of the state of emergency planned to be held on 31 July.
Currently, there are no restrictions to contain the circulation of the virus in France. The mask is mandatory only in healthcare facilities including clinics, hospitals, pharmacies and nursing homes for the elderly. There is no longer any need for the use of accessories in companies and public transportation.
Benjamin Davido, an infection specialist at Garches hospital in the Paris region, explains that a return to “normal life” without minimal protective measures is one of the factors contributing to the contamination wave. “The resumption of this epidemic on this station is completely unexpected,” he told French radio. France Information.
According to him, the fact that the virus can spread during the summer months indicates that it is “endemic”, that is, it circulates throughout the year. This means that it is necessary to “take action and anticipate the next waves” and revaccinate the population.
“We need to explain to the French why new reinforcements are needed,” he warns. “There is no permanent immunity to this virus as there is with the flu, and that’s why we vaccinate every year,” he repeats.
Currently, the French population is partially protected against sub-variants of omicron due to the high vaccination rate (about 79% have all three doses) and recent infections. Studies show, for example, that contamination by the BA.2 variant with immunization provides high protection against severe forms and partial protection against infections.
But in the fall a new supplement should be indispensable. The problem is that existing vaccines have not yet been updated to combat omicron and its sub-variants. A new immunizer is being tested by Pfizer and Moderna, but the release date is uncertain.
In this context, the French infectious disease specialist criticizes the lack of containment measures. “No one is protecting themselves anymore. On the contrary, there is extreme disrespect for care. The current situation is grotesque,” he criticizes, citing, for example, the end of mandatory masks on airplanes and airports.
vaccine for babies
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) authorized Pfizer and Moderna vaccines for children ages six months to five on Saturday — a “huge step” in the fight against the virus, according to U.S. President Joe Biden.
Thus, the United States became the first country to approve the use of messenger RNA vaccines for children under six months of age. The US drug agency (FDA) had authorized emergency use for this age group on Friday.
However, permission was also required from the country’s main health agency, the CDC. Previously, only those over the age of five could be vaccinated. “We know that millions of parents are dying to vaccinate their young children, and with today’s decision that is now possible,” CDC Director Rochelle Walensky said in a statement.
After FDA approval, the US government began distributing millions of doses of the vaccine across the country. Biden promised parents that vaccination appointments could be scheduled at hospitals, clinics, pharmacies and doctors’ offices as early as next week.
source: Noticias
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