The deterioration of the health situation is accelerating further, since the main indicators for monitoring the epidemic are doubling in the space of a week.
This acceleration is part of a movement identical to that of the whole of France. It reflects the now strong presence of the Omicron variant, alongside the Delta variant which still remains in the majority. The incidence rate today exceeds 1,300 cases per 100,000 inhabitants over the last 7 days.
Strict compliance with braking and curfew measures taken by prefectural decree since 1is January is imposed more than ever on everyone.
Hospital tension is real, with a serious risk of saturation of our resuscitation and Covid medicine capacities. The hospitals have already started to deprogram operations in order to be able to increase this reception capacity: the resuscitation bed capacity has thus been increased to 95 beds. But despite this we have an occupancy rate close to 90%.
Note that 90% of patients hospitalized in intensive care do not have a complete vaccination schedule. This week, 10 deaths linked to Covid-19 are to be deplored.
In order to limit the spread of the epidemic, it is imperative to:
- To get vaccinated : to protect themselves from serious forms, the inhabitants of Réunion are strongly encouraged to carry out their first injection as quickly as possible or to benefit from their vaccination booster. Meeting slots are available in the centers.
- Respect barrier gestures
- Get tested and isolate yourself if symptoms or contact at risk
Health situation
The prefecture and the Regional Health Agency regret to announce on January 4, 2022 the deaths, which occurred during the last 7 days, of ten patients from Reunion:
- 1 person was between 35 and 44 years old,
- 2 people were aged 45 to 64,
- 1 person was between 65 and 74 years old,
- 6 people were over 75 years old.
Nine had comorbidities, and eight were not vaccinated. Nine had comorbidities, and eight were not vaccinated. The 2 vaccinated people presented with comorbidities.
From December 24 to 31, 9,358 cases were identified in 7 days (vs 4 807 the previous week). Over the last week, screenings have increased: 76,913 (against 61,726 last week). The positivity rate is up to 12.2%.%. The highest positivity rates are among 0-14 year olds and 25-34 year olds.
The rate weekly incidence rose sharply to 1.093.3 / 100,000 inhabitants (against 561.6 the previous week). The number of daily cases is 1,337 against 686 the previous week.
The number of screenings carried out during the week is increasing compared to last week with 76,913 tests carried out, a level equivalent to that of 2 weeks ago.
Among the 9,358 new cases during the period, 55 imported cases were recorded.
take in account the 72.447 healings and 419 deaths since the start of the health crisis, 13.098 cases are still active to this day.
85.960 cases have been investigated to date by ARS, Public Health France and Health Insurance since the start of the epidemic.
Search for Covid-19 mutations
From 25 to 31 December, 7,212 positive tests were screened to identify a mutation: 6,305 cases presented one of the specific mutations under surveillance, i.e. a proportion of 87.4% including 73.7% delta variant. The share of the Omicron variant is therefore increasing.
Update on clusters:
As of December 30, 2021, there were 91 active clusters and 610 closed clusters.
Among the 53 active clusters:
- 25 clusters are classified as high criticality: Le Port (2), Le Tampon (2), Saint-Philippe (1), Saint-Benoît (1), Saint-Leu (1), Saint-Denis (9), Sainte- Marie (1), Saint-Joseph (2), Saint-Pierre (4) and Saint Paul (2).
- 28 clusters are classified as moderate criticality: La Possession (2), Le Port (4), Le Tampon (2), Les Avirons (1), Etang Salé (1), Saint-André (2), Saint-Denis (5), Sainte-Marie (2), Sainte-Suzanne (1), Saint-Louis (2), Saint-Paul (3) and Saint Pierre (3).
Regarding the other indicators
Positivity rates the highest concern three age groups specifically :
- people aged 0 to 14: 14.3%
- people aged 25-34: 13%
- people aged 15-24: 12.4%
Hospital situation :
As of January 4, 41 intensive care beds are occupied by patients positive for Covid-19, out of the 95 beds installed in Reunion Island.
For people admitted to intensive care since 1is December :
– 44% are men and 56% women;
– 2% are aged 0-14, 25% are aged 15 to 44, 42% are aged 45 to 64, 24% are aged 65 to 74, and 7% are over 75;
– 87% present with comorbidities.
90% of patients did not have a complete vaccination schedule.
Evolution of isolation and quarantine rules
In order to take into account the extremely rapid evolution of the distribution of the Omicron variant in France, the durations of isolation and quarantine change from January 3, 2022.
Why this development?
As the distribution of the Omicron variant is extremely rapid, a significant number of people will be infected in the coming weeks.
Furthermore, the incubation time of the Omicron variant is faster than for the previous variants, favoring a reduction in the isolation time.
These elements, associated with the acceleration of the vaccination campaign and the reminder of the essential implementation of barrier measures, makes it possible to consider reducing and adjusting the length of isolation.
What are the new isolation rules?
Positive people
From January 3, 2022, the isolation rules are the same for positive people regardless of the variant (Delta or Omicron).
- For positive people with a complete vaccination schedule (booster carried out in accordance with the requirements of the health pass) and for children under 12 years old
Isolation is now for a period of 7 days after the date of the onset of signs or the date the positive test was taken. However, after 5 days, the positive person can be released from isolation under two conditions:
– she performs an antigen test or RT-PCR and it is negative
– she has not had clinical signs of infection for 48 hours
If the test carried out is positive or if the person does not perform a test: their isolation is maintained for 7 days. She does not perform a second test on D7.
- For positive people with an incomplete vaccination schedule (booster not performed) and for unvaccinated people
Isolation is 10 days (full) after the date of the onset of signs or the date the positive test was taken.
However, after 7 days, the positive person can be released from isolation under two conditions:
– she performs an antigen test or RT-PCR and it is negative
– she has not had clinical signs of infection for 48 hours
If the test is positive or if the person does not take a test, isolation is 10 days.
The new quarantine rules for contacts
The quarantine rules for contact persons are the same whether we are in contact with a positive person who lives in the same household or not.
- For contacts with a complete vaccination schedule (reminder carried out in accordance with the requirements of the health pass)
There is no longer a quarantine, however the contact persons must:
– strictly apply barrier measures, and in particular wearing a mask indoors and outdoors,
– limit their contacts and avoid all contact with people at risk for a severe form of Covid,
– telecommute as much as possible.
In addition, contact persons must perform a TAG or RT-PCR test as soon as they learn that they are in contact, then perform self-tests on D2 and D4 after the last contact with the positive person. If the self-test is positive, the result should be confirmed by a TAG or an RT-PCR test. If the test is positive, the person becomes a case and begins isolation.
- For contact persons with an incomplete vaccination schedule and for unvaccinated contact persons
These people must respect isolation for a period of 7 days (full) from the date of the last contact. For contact persons living in the same household, isolation begins on the same day as the positive person and ends on D7.
To get out of quarantine, these people must perform an antigen test or RT-PCR on D7 and have a negative result. If the test is positive, the person becomes a case and begins isolation.
- For children under 12
For children under 12 contact, in the school environment, the national education protocol applies.
This results in the performance of a TAG or RT-PCR test for all the students in the class as soon as a case appears in the class, and return to class upon presentation of the negative result.
In addition, the students carry out self-tests on D2 and D4. Parents must present a certificate on their honor that these tests have been carried out and their negative result on D2 and D4 to allow the pupil to stay in class.
Self-tests are paid for by Health Insurance and delivered free of charge in pharmacies after the test has been carried out on D0.
Respect barrier gestures more than ever
- Air out the rooms in your home or workplace as often as possible. Frequent ventilation of enclosed spaces is more than ever necessary to prevent the virus from taking hold.
- Wear the mask in enclosed spaces, in public spaces and when the recommended distance from the neighbor cannot be respected.
- Wash your hands regularly or use a hydro-alcoholic solution and avoid touching your face
- Respect a distance of at least two meters from others and limit social contacts as much as possible
Physical distancing is strongly recommended because of the high contagiousness of virus variants, especially when a mask is not worn and in particular during meal times.
- Greet without shaking hands and avoid hugs
- Cough or sneeze into your elbow or into a disposable tissue
For the moment, even vaccinated, let’s continue to wear the mask and apply barrier gestures.
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