Covid-19 has changed a lot since its first contaminations in 2019. Today, the latest variant is called XEC and seems to be gaining ground in recent weeks.
We wanted to have departmental figures on the circulation of the virus but, when contacted, the Regional Health Agency did not respond to our requests.
The only information we have is therefore national: “Two weeks ago (week 38)all indicators for all ages were increasing in town and in hospital; this increase being driven by adults and more particularly those aged 65 and over”indicates Public Health France, on its website.
Wednesday October 2, 2024, Public Health France indicated that syndromic indicators were generally decreasing, except among those aged 65 and over. And to specify that “the circulation of Sars-Cov2 remains significant: developments will need to be monitored with vigilance”.
At issue: the start of the school year
One thing is certain: in Loir-et-Chériens pharmacies, more and more people are pushing the door to get tested, or to buy self-tests.
At the Medici pharmacy in Blois, it is indicated that this resurgence of Covid-19 “goes back about a fortnight”. Consequence, a posteriori, of the start of the school year? Likely. Today, pharmacists here carry out “around twenty antigen tests per day: one or two turn out to be positive”.
The sound of the bell is almost the same within the pharmacy on avenue Maunoury, in Blois. Flora Silly, the pharmacist, uses the term “resurgence” when she talks about the coronavirus epidemic. She also sets the start date “of this rebound at the start of the school year”.
The sick also come here in numbers “get tested with antigen tests”. Added to this is an increase in sales of self-tests, masks, and hydroalcoholic solutions.
Flora Silly keeps reminding “barrier gestures” to patients who enter his pharmacy: “If people are sick, they are supposed to come with a mask!” » At that moment, Maëva enters the pharmacy, mask on her nose. The young woman wears it “as a precaution”because she counts in her family “people at risk”.
On a remis les hygiaphones
You just have to go to the northern districts of Blois to see that this phenomenon is general. In this pharmacy, we went from 48 self-tests sold per month in July and August… to 116 in September. A « pic » which had not been reached for a long time. Also, every day, pharmacy employees carry out antigen tests: up to seven per day.
Agnès, pharmacy technician in the northern districts of Blois.
© Photo NR, Jérôme Dutac
We put back the hygiaphones – which had however been removed – to avoid contamination of the staff, who work in daily contact with patients. “It avoids spit”smiles a pharmacy technician.
La Chaussée-Saint-Victor unfortunately does not escape this circulation of Covid. And there, this surge in cases began in the summer. The reason? “It is said that the first cases of this new wave in Loir-et-Cher started from a small daycare”believes Alex, who works in the Hermitage pharmacy.
In September, the number of positive Covid tests increased significantly. But if the virus spreads more easily, it is much less virulent for the lungs!
“Covid is probably circulating in schools”
Contacted, the Directorate of Departmental Services of National Education of Loir-et-Cher takes stock of the coronavirus epidemic. And indicates: “Covid is probably circulating in schools. But we no longer have any feedback at the departmental level at this level. »
And the DSDEN continues: “Since the 1is February 2023, systematic isolation for people testing positive is no longer mandatory.
The recommendations are the same for our students as for the general population. And this even in the case of conditions other than Covid.
That is to say, strengthening barrier gestures: wearing a mask (recommended but not obligatory), washing hands, ventilating rooms, etc. These are all simple, but effective actions against the circulation of respiratory viruses, still in force in schools. »
