COVID-19 Contamination Trends in Brittany: Figures and Implications

2023-09-21 16:04:28

At school, at work, in your family: contamination seems to be on the rise once more in Brittany. Is this impression confirmed by your figures?

We experienced an increase in the number of covid-19 cases from mid-July to early September. Since then, we have observed a form of stabilization at the regional level at 50 cases per 100,000 inhabitants: with an increase among those under 45, but a decrease among the oldest. The increase is more marked in Côtes-d’Armor and Ille-et-Vilaine.

We see that viral circulation occurs mainly among younger people and their parents.

(The Telegram)

Monitoring of the number of cases and hospitalizations has been greatly reduced since July. Should your figures be taken with a pinch of salt?

We have access to data related to PCR tests carried out on medical prescription but not to those carried out in pharmacies and to self-tests carried out at home. We therefore only have a very fractional vision of the number of people infected, even if this “incidence rate” remains a trend monitoring indicator.

Is Brittany more affected than other regions?

Taking into account the limits of this incidence rate, Brittany is one of the regions where it is the highest, a few units higher than the national average.

What are the variants circulating in Brittany? Has BA.2.86 been detected, whose large number of mutations raises international concerns?

These are the same variants that are circulating in France (EG.5, known as “Eris”, is the most common there). On the other hand, BA.2.86 (nicknamed “Pirola”) has not yet been identified in Brittany but it should be noted that there is not a huge amount of sequencing carried out, only on a fraction of the 5,000 tests carried out. per week in the region.

Is the current level of contamination weighing on Breton hospitals?

No runaway was observed. The indicator of visits to the emergency room due to covid has even started to decrease, it had reached a slight peak at the beginning of September. We are therefore not in a worrying situation at the moment. But this may only be a stage before a recovery in the fall.

Many Bretons are far from their last vaccination or contamination. Is population immunity declining? Can the vaccination campaign brought forward to October 2 remedy this?

Protection once morest severe forms induced by previous vaccinations has undoubtedly diminished because the latest boosters are sometimes old. Thus, booster vaccination of elderly and frail people and its early implementation, in view of viral circulation, are important.

With the drop in temperatures and the arrival of autumn, should we fear a new “triple epidemic” of covid-flu-bronchiolitis?

These are respiratory viruses and the causes have the same effects: autumnal conditions, indoor confinement, less ventilation of premises, the abandonment of barrier gestures will favor infections.

What advice would you give to limit the spread of covid and other respiratory viruses, even if they are rarely followed?

It is necessary to ventilate the premises well, to wash your hands regularly, and if you are a little sick, to wear a mask because it especially protects others.

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