Everyone knows people around them infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus, unless they have been directly affected themselves. This resumption of the epidemic is in no way a surprise. “Throughout the summer, the virus circulated relatively quietly, with waves during large gatherings such as the Olympic Games”reports Brigitte Autran, president of the Health Risk Monitoring and Anticipation Committee (Covars). With the start of the school year and the return of the cold season, the circulation of the SARS-CoV-2 virus has started to rise again.
The virus, in fact, has established itself in the landscape of respiratory infections, almost like the seasonal flu. With one notable difference: “New variants for Covid-19 appear much more often than for the flunotes Olivier Saint-Lary, general practitioner and president of the National College of Teaching General Practitioners. We are always on the lookout for a new variant. » However, “there are no worrying signals”notes Brigitte Autran. This upward trend appears to be “peaking out”. Et “the levels of circulation of SARS-CoV-2 this fall are far below those of previous years”.
The indicators published by Public Health France (SPF), Wednesday October 2, show a contrasting picture. If data from community medicine and hospitals suggest a stagnation of the epidemic, the level of circulation of the virus in wastewater continues to increase. And despite signs of slowing down, the increase in symptomatic infections continues among those aged 65 and over – the most vulnerable age group.
This age group is particularly targeted by the combined vaccination campaign against Covid-19 and flu, which is due to start on October 15. Just like people at risk of a serious form, because they suffer from a chronic pathology (immune depression, cardiorespiratory diseases, diabetes, obesity, cancers, mental disorders, etc.), as well as those around them.
Data to be analyzed with caution
City data, first. During the week of September 23, Covid-19 represented 3.8% of SOS Médecins actions, down 0.2 points compared to the previous week. For its part, the Sentinelles network, this health monitoring carried out by a panel of general practitioners and liberal pediatricians, also noted, this same week, a slight decrease in cases among 0-14 year olds, stable among 15-64 year olds and slightly increasing among those aged 65 and over. This slight decline, however, is part of a clear trend towards an increase in cases since the beginning of September, for those under 65; and since mid-September for those aged 65 and over.
You have 64.74% of this article left to read. The rest is reserved for subscribers.
