The epidemic, which had decreased in recent months, has been on the rise for two weeks with more than 70,000 people infected every day nationwide. Like the whole of France, the Rhône department is facing a resumption of Covid cases.
On June 25 in the Rhône, the incidence rate was 729 per 100,000 people and the number of positive tests was 28%. These figures raise fears of a resumption of the epidemic in the coming weeks. These remain similar to those of the national average. Despite the increase in new cases, hospitalizations remain low, with an occupancy rate of beds for patients with Covid of around 12%. Longer, more contagious, it is now the BA4 and BA5 variants of Omicron sub-lineages which are in the majority in France.
At the Marais pharmacy in Villefranche-sur-Saône, health professionals are noticing an increase in tests. “A lot more people are coming to be tested since the beginning of the week”, assures one of the managers. Thomas Bourrut, biologist at the Ingels Novelab Vignon laboratory, also notes an upsurge in people who come to be tested. “More and more people are making an appointment for this type of test and unfortunately, they are more and more positive”slips the biologist.
June, an alarming record
Contacted about the potential resumption of Covid in Beaujolais territory, the North West Hospital (HNO) is worried about this new upsurge in the epidemic. “While the hospitalizations of Covid patients had almost ceased in May, we recorded over the period from June 1 to 26 38 hospitalized patients and two deaths for all the hospitals of the HNO. Today, the number of people hospitalized is low, but the rapid increase in viral circulation in the Rhône in particular worries us”.
The hospital group also claims that a new wave is being resettled. They therefore warn of the importance of resuming barrier gestures and remaining vigilant. “It is important to re-mobilize ourselves. In particular to curb this new wave, we can be vigilant about washing our hands, wearing a mask in closed and crowded spaces, and vaccinating ourselves if this is not done.
Regarding vaccination, HNO reminds that it is still possible to carry out a new dose, “people who have not done their first reminder can do so with their general practitioner or at a pharmacy”. A fourth dose is also available for people over 60 and also for immunocompromised people.