Should we see this as a worrying sign? For the first time in over a year, two people have died from coronavirus in China, where the “zero Covid” strategy has prompted the authorities to confine several cities. powered by the BA.2 subvariantthis epidemic recovery is not sparing Europe, even though most of the health restrictions have been lifted in Germany, the Netherlands and France, where the health pass and the wearing of a mask are no longer compulsory in most locations since March 14.
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If the number of hospitalizations in France stabilizes after a slight increase, “the R-effective (the reproduction rate of the virus, Editor’s note)greater than 1, confirms the acceleration of the circulation of Sras-CoV-2”, indicates Public Health France in its report of March 17. We are now taking 78,911 positive cases per day on average, or 35% more than a week ago.
Return from holidays and relaxation of barrier measures
“It is not a sixth wave, but a rebound from the 5th”, assures Yannick Simonin. In addition to the higher contagiousness of BA.2, now the majority in the country, the virologist at the University of Montpellier associates this recovery with three factors: temperatures that are still cool and conducive to viral circulation, the return of school holidays, and above all the relaxation of barrier measures since the end of February.
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The mask may slip away little by little, “the epidemic is not over”, hammers the scientific council in its opinion of March 14. While understanding the desire of the population to put an end to the virus or to put its effects into perspective.
“European countries, including France, are particularly concerned about the situation of war in ukraine and Covid-19 has taken a back seat with a major humanitarian crisis that is just beginning,” observe the instance. It nevertheless underlines the importance for frail or elderly people to maintain barrier gestures and to receive a fourth dose of vaccine.
For the scientific council, however, this recovery should be temporary and the situation should improve. “from the end of April” thanks to the spring warming. “From there, we should experience a relatively long period of calm, hope Yannick Simonin. But as vaccine and natural immunity wanes over the months, it is likely that the authorities will have to lower the age of eligibility for the fourth dose in the fall. »
As the recall campaign for the over 80s enters its second week, the High Authority for Health (HAS) is already pleading for the over 65s to “very high risk” can receive the injection if they wish and “as part of a medical decision shared with the healthcare team”, it specifies in its opinion of March 18.