COVID-19 and Flu Surge in Normandy: Holiday Season Alert

2023-12-16 09:46:33

Covid-19 contaminations are on the rise once more in Normandy and throughout France. The flu is also making a comeback. As the holidays approach, vigilance is required.

Will viruses spoil the holiday season? While the latter are fast approaching, this period of family reunion might well be spoiled by COVID-19.

For several weeks in Normandy, the incidence and contamination rate has started to rise once more: +37% in one week in Calvados, +38% in Eure or even +31% in Seine-Maritime.

Incidence rate in Normandy as of December 8, 2023 • © France Télévisions

An increase in cases in the city

In a situation update published WednesdayPublic Health France notes “a continued increase in indicators in town and in hospitals among adults and more particularly the elderly” and indicates that “the Sars-CoV2 positivity rate increased in town medicine and in the ‘hospital”.

“After the bronchiolitis epidemic, which seems to have passed, we have an increase in cases of covid and flu at the same time”, explains on our France 3 Normandie set Xavier Humbert, general practitioner and lecturer at the University from Caen.

Cases of flu and covid will increase in the coming weeks, especially with the Christmas holidays.

Xavier Humbert, general practitioner and lecturer at the University of Caen

Share of illnesses among SOS Médecins acts • © France Télévisions

As the holidays are conducive to reunions (hugs, handshakes, etc.), the barrier gestures so promoted during the 2020 confinement now seem to have been forgotten. “We will have to face an increase in the number of cases in January,” continues the doctor.

According to a Public Health France survey carried out in September, barely more than one in two French people consider it necessary to wear a mask if they have symptoms such as a cough or fever. “In France, we have not yet appropriated this barrier gesture which is essential” and remains associated in people’s minds with Covid alone, regretted Caroline Semaille, general director of Public Health France.

The mask remains recommended “in the event of symptoms, in busy places and in the presence of vulnerable people”, according to Public Health France.

“Applying barrier gestures is also a way of protecting the health system,” adds Xavier Humbert.

In this context, health authorities reiterated their call to be vaccinated for vulnerable people, particularly those over 65.

To “have a good holiday” and so that “the hospitals are not overwhelmed this winter”, the Minister of Health called on Wednesday for “a rebound in vaccination” once morest Covid and once morest the flu. Referring to “those who are going to reunite with their parents, their grandparents at Christmas”, Aurélien Rousseau judged that “we would all be more reassured if all these little people around the tree were vaccinated”.

The Ministry of Health particularly recommends double vaccination (covid and flu), “strongly recommended for people at risk of serious illness and those around them.”

The two injections can be performed at the same time, and without risk.

For their part, health authorities have not modified the protocols in force despite the slight increase in cases. Since February 1, systematic isolation for people who test positive is no longer compulsory. The latter are nevertheless “strongly“ invited to “isolate themselves”, to “avoid contact with vulnerable people” and to “maintain respect for barrier gestures”, details the site service-public.fr.

If the need arises, they can obtain work stoppage, but the exemption system which allowed them to not have a waiting period has also been removed.

It is not necessary for contact cases to isolate themselves, but they are invited to “wear a mask”, “avoid contact with fragile and at-risk people” and “carry out an antigen or PCR screening test in the event of symptoms appearing.

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