Resurgence of Covid: return of barrier gestures recommended in the face of all the rising indicators

Tous les indicateurs du Covid sont en hausse alerte Santé publique France. imageBROKER.com – imageBROKER/Jochen Tack

Le Covid fait un retour remarqué en France. Les indicateurs sont en hausse, en particulier chez les seniors. Santé publique France appelle à la prudence. 

An intensification of the circulation of Covid "seems to be beginning" in France, where all indicators are progressing, Public Health France observed on Wednesday, September 25, pointing to a more marked increase among seniors.

The week of September 16 to 22, “all indicators for all ages were increasing in the city and in hospital", the agency indicated in its weekly bulletin.

And “this increase was driven by adults, and more particularly those aged 65 and over", specified SpF.

Increase for the 4th consecutive week

Among those aged 65 and over, there were 1,013 hospitalizations after emergency visits for Covid or suspected Covid, or 2.9% of hospitalizations after emergency visits in this age group, compared to 1.7% a week earlier.

In addition to doctor consultations and hospitalizations, wastewater – where the presence of SARS-CoV-2 is monitored in 12 stations across France – shows an increase in the detection of the virus “for the fourth week consecutive".

"An intensification of the circulation of SARS-CoV-2 seems to be beginning, the evolution of which will have to be monitored closely over the coming weeks", SpF summarized.

In this context, the health agency insists on “the systematic adoption of barrier gestures by all”, in particular on wearing a mask in the event of symptoms, in crowded places and in the presence of vulnerable people.

New vaccination campaign

A new vaccination campaign against Covid, but also the flu, will begin on October 15 and will target in particular French people aged 65 and over and people at risk of severe form.

While vaccines lose their effectiveness over time against infections, they remain very protective against severe forms, health authorities insist.

In addition, some adults (people immunocompromised, 65 years and over at risk) can also benefit from specific antiviral treatment, recalled SpF.

Although, since May 2023, the World Health Organization no longer considers the pandemic a global health emergency, it regularly reminds that SARS-CoV-2 “continues to circulate and evolve”.

Over time and waves, the impact of Covid on hospitalizations and deaths has greatly diminished thanks to the high level of immunity acquired through vaccination and/or infections. But it is not zero, and the risk of a more dangerous variant remains.