In this hospital in the Somme, the mask becomes compulsory again from December 20

Flu, CoviD and bronchiolitis. A triple winter epidemic which pushes the management of the Amiens hospital to make the wearing of masks compulsory for all visitors.

It’s a decision that risks coming back every winter. The Amiens University Hospital has just announced that from Friday December 20, wearing a mask will become compulsory for all visitors.

Measures taken at the hospital

• Wearing a surgical mask continuously becomes mandatory, upon entering the Buildings in which patients/residents circulate to:
• Any professional, regardless of the healthcare or medico-social sector (conventional hospitalization, accommodation, consultations, day hospital, etc.)
• Any hospitalized patient over 6 years old, as soon as he leaves his room
• Any outpatient patient/resident in waiting rooms and when circulating in the health establishment
• Anyone who comes into contact with patients/residents (including paramedics, students, volunteers, etc.)
• Any visitor over 6 years old and accompanying

To this end, a single distribution of masks can be made to patients and/or visitors, if necessary.

Respect for other barrier gestures (distancing in the absence of a mask, hand hygiene, systematic wearing of a mask in the presence of ENT or respiratory symptoms, etc.) continues to apply.

“The combination of all these prevention measures and barrier gestures will make it possible to limit viral circulation in the establishment, to prevent the risk of clusters within the sectors and to protect users, professionals and their loved ones.”

Flu, Covid, Bronchiolitis, where are we?

• Flu : sharp increase in flu activity in towns and hospitals in all age groups; in France, four regions are in the epidemic phase including Hauts-de-France, and eight regions in the pre-epidemic phase
• Bronchiolitis: increase in the majority of indicators; twelve regions with an epidemic in France
• Covid-19 : activity generally stable at low levels.

There is still time to get vaccinated!

Vaccination against flu and Covid-19 is possible from city health professionals and pharmacies. As the end-of-year holidays approach, the ARS Hauts-de-France and Health Insurance recall the importance of these vaccinations and barrier gestures to protect themselves and others, while the region has entered in the pre-epidemic phase for influenza.

Flu and Covid-19 vaccinations are recommended for vulnerable people and those around them

Vaccination against seasonal flu and vaccination against Covid-19 are both recommended for the most vulnerable people: people aged 65 and over; people with chronic illness (cardiovascular, pulmonary, diabetes, etc.); immunocompromised people; people with severe obesity and pregnant women. Vaccination is also recommended for those close to these vulnerable people (family, home help, etc.) as well as for health professionals.

Getting vaccinated is a simple gesture and remains the simplest way to protect yourself against serious forms of flu and Covid-19. Since vaccination is effective around 15 days after the injection, there is still time to get vaccinated before the holidays and while the Hauts-de-France region has entered the pre-epidemic phase for the flu.

Getting vaccinated in the coming days against these two diseases allows you to be protected for the end-of-year holidays and throughout the winter. Double vaccination is also possible on the same day.

According to estimates as of November 20, only 1 in 3 inhabitants of Hauts-de-France who have received a health insurance voucher are vaccinated against the flu. This is lower vaccination coverage than the same period last year. Regarding Covid-19 – and even though the vaccination target is the same – it is estimated for the current campaign that three times fewer people are vaccinated against Covid-19 than against the flu.