what is the situation in France at the beginning of November?

The current wave of Covid-19 in France, which began in early September, continues to ebb, but at a pace which seems to be slowing down, particularly for contamination, according to figures published Thursday by the health authorities. Last week, “the circulation of SARS-CoV-2 continued to slow down, however with an upward trend in the positivity rate from antigenic tests” in mainland France after a downward trend the previous two weeks, the agency summarized. Public Health France, in its weekly report.

A “significantly less marked” drop than previously

The incidence rate also continued to decline, but “much less markedly” than previously, said SPF, whose calculations were based on antigen tests alone because the biologists’ strike affected the file of PCR test results until to last Tuesday. New hospitalizations and the number of deaths also continued to decline. The number of Covid patients in critical care thus fell below the symbolic threshold of 1,000 on Wednesday.

Started at the beginning of September, the current wave of Covid has been calming down since the end of October. This wave remains carried by the Omicron variant of the virus, whose BA.5 version remains ubiquitous. As the circulation of the virus remains “active” and the winter period is approaching, the public health agency calls again to strengthen vaccination, in particular of those most at risk of serious forms of Covid, in particular with a vaccine also adapted to the variant. Omicron.

Reminder of barrier gestures, and vaccination

For those over 60, adults at risk (comorbidities, pregnant women, etc.), caregivers, four “bivalent” vaccines adapted to Omicron are recommended indifferently for an additional dose this fall. The High Authority for Health on Wednesday gave the green light to the fourth, Spikevax, manufactured by Moderna and adapted to the BA.4 and BA.5 strains of the virus. Until then, the fall recall campaign is struggling to take off. Only 39.9% of 60-79 year olds and 52.6% of those aged 80 and over among eligible people had received a second reminder by November 7, noted Public Health France.

In addition to vaccination, “barrier gestures, including wearing a mask, remain essential”, particularly in the presence of people at risk of complications, in the event of crowding in closed spaces (transport, etc.), during large gatherings, a hammered the health agency. Beyond the Covid, the health context is particularly tense with an epidemic of bronchiolitis in infants at record levels of hospitalizations for more than 10 years, and, on the horizon, the arrival of seasonal flu.