contaminations explode, “the pandemic is here”, warns Christian Bréchot

Since 2020, the coronavirus has turned the daily lives of the French upside down. Strict health measures have been adopted to stem the spread of the virus, which has so far claimed 146,000 lives. On March 14, the executive announced the abolition of the vaccination pass. The return of freedom for millions of French people, but is the worst really over? “What is clear is that there is a certain threat”, alerted Christian Bréchot at the microphone of Julien Pearce, in the morning of Europe 1.

Less than two weeks before the start of the summer holidays and the high summer season, the former director of the Pasteur Institute from 2013 to 2017 called on the French to remain cautious. “We don’t talk about it anymore but I’m sorry, the pandemic is here, it’s increasing again. It’s not a question of completely worrying, but there are precautions to be taken.” Christian Bréchot talks about wearing a mask in closed places such as public transport and department stores, the ventilation of rooms and vaccination.

“Everyone fears autumn”

Why so many concerns as summer approaches, three months after the elimination of the vaccination pass? “There is a seasonal aspect and everyone is a little afraid of autumn. The fundamental points of the coronavirus are the coming together. It is a hyper-contagious virus. The virus does not have much to do because let it be warmer.”

What do the last numbers mean? The incidence rate of coronavirus cases jumped 53% in seven days, which represents 373 patients per 100,000 inhabitants. This increase in the number of cases is reflected in the hospital: after a constant decline at the end of April, the number of new hospitalizations increased by 20% over the past week.