2023-09-01 15:39:03
FOCUS – New variants, vaccination campaign scheduled for October 17, new recommendations… Le Figaro takes stock of the evolution of the epidemic this fall.
Who says back to school, says return of the cold and minor ailments. Including Covid-19. If the cases have decreased significantly for several months, the coronavirus has in fact never disappeared. He even invited himself by surprise during the summer, due to the vagaries of the weather that the French experienced during this period. What should we expect for this fall? What are the variants circulating and what are the rules to be applied from now on in case of suspicion? Le Figaro make the point.
Will Covid-19 return in the fall?
There is now no doubt:The start of the school year promotes the circulation of respiratory viruses“, explains Antoine Flahault, epidemiologist and director of the Institute of Global Health at the University of Geneva. Furthermore, “severe forms and hospitalizations remain more frequent during the cold season“, he recalls.
Last year, a conjunction of respiratory viruses – influenza, respiratory syncytial virus and coronavirus – caused the hospital system to become saturated in December and January across Europe. “We can indeed fear a repetition of such a scenario this winter.“, warns Professor Flahault.
If collective immunity and the millions of contaminations with different variants have trained the human body to defend itself against the virus, this does not make it any less dangerous. The reduction in protection conferred by vaccination or previous infection, as well as more sustained circulation of the virus, could “lead to a resurgence of severe forms, especially in vulnerable people“Writes Public Health France in a note on August 31. And this, even in the absence of new variants.
Read alsoCovid-19: the return of the compulsory mask dismissed despite the Eris variant
This is why a vaccination campaign joint with the flu is planned from October 17, 2023 in metropolitan France, and from September 6 in Mayotte. Only people at risk are targeted: those aged over 65, with comorbidities, pregnant women, immunocompromised people and all those in regular contact with people at risk.
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What are the main variants circulating in France?
Several sub-variants of the XBB series continue to circulate in Europe. The latest of them, EG.5.1, named Erisis in the process ofimpose itself and dominate the current epidemiological landscape in France“says Professor Flahault.
Another Omicron sub-variant, the BA.2.86, nicknamed Pirola , is emerging in the world and has just been identified in France in the Grand Est. “Due to its large number of mutations (up to 35) we place this new variant under close surveillance, even if to date we do not have much information about it.“says the professor.
Good news, no variant is today classified as worrying, can we read in the latest note from Public Health France. Three variants are particularly monitored, XBB1.1., XBB.1.16 and EG.5.
What to do in case of symptoms?
With the lifting of the global health emergency and all restrictions, there is no need to panic when symptoms of Covid-19 appear. A new Covid-19 infection is very likely to be mild for a healthy person.
If you are about to meet an elderly or immunocompromised person, it is best to get tested beforehand, in order to avoid any concerns. “It may be banal, it’s vital“, had declared Aurélien Rousseau on BFM TV end of August. To do this, simply go to a pharmacy and perform a self-test (3.50 euros) or an antigenic test (16.15 euros).
On the other hand, it is now necessary to wait for the result of his test, explained Philippe Besset, president of the federation of pharmaceutical unions of France (FSPF), at the Figaro mid-August, the SIDEP epidemic surveillance system no longer exists.
On the reimbursement side, the antigen test is covered by health insurance up to 70% and 30% by the patient’s mutual insurance company. With regard to people at risk (65 years and over and immunocompromised people), the latter are covered at 100%. Self-tests are not reimbursed.
What to do if the Covid-19 test is positive?
Isolation is no longer mandatory since January 31, 2023. But rules of etiquette are required in the event of a positive test, such as respecting barrier gestures (masks, washing hands regularly, etc.) and avoiding people at risk.
If possible, prefer telecommuting. “The question is no longer whether you are strong enough to go to work, but whether it is really worth exposing othersasks Mircea Sofonea, lecturer in epidemiology at the University of Montpellier. If your condition does not allow you to work, it is always possible to obtain a medical leave from work.
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» Find all the terms in our article: Test, isolation, declaration… What to do if you think you have caught the Covid-19 virus this summer?
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