2023-12-03 17:10:22
The editorial team advises you
Charente: long covid, their daily hell
Little known, long Covid nevertheless affects thousands of people. They have been living in medical limbo for months. Their state of health often requires them to make a complete change of life.
In any case, this is what Laurent Filleul, epidemiologist and regional director of Public health Francethe establishment which is now tracking the virus: “The epidemic is behind us. But the virus is still present, and it circulates all the time even if there is a seasonal peak. » Namely the arrival of the first cold weather, the decline in immune systems and more time spent indoors in contact with other people.
“Even if screenings are no longer compulsory, we have still noted a slight but visible evolution over the last few weeks. » During week 47, from November 20 to 26, Charente experienced 20 visits to the emergency room for suspected covid. Two more than in week 46 when week 45, at the beginning of November, had recorded 17 passages. But no visits to intensive care in Charente last week.
“With time and transmissions, viruses mutate and adapt. In the case of covid, it seems to be less virulent,” develops Laurent Filleul, who adds: “Although covid remains the most monitored infectious disease in the world, with the most indicators and data, there is a hypothesis to which we do not yet know the answer: is the intensity of covid decreasing thanks to vaccination or because of the reduced capacities of the virus? » This monitoring has nevertheless evolved. It is Public Health France which traces the evolution of covid, now considered a seasonal disease, and more the regional health agency (ARS).
Covid is now part of our lives and we have to get used to it.
Test sales on the rise
Another indicator is the number of positive tests. In Charente, Public Health France Nouvelle-Aquitaine recorded 69 cases out of 359 people tested in week 47, i.e. a positivity rate of 19.2%. It was 17.9% the previous week and 15.6% in week 45. “But as these are small numbers, the increase is easily visible », nuance Laurent Filleul.
The editorial team advises you
Marine Grosset, infectious disease doctor at Girac hospitalconfirms the rebound: “Since mid-November, we have entered the epidemic peak. » A progression that goes hand in hand with bronchiolitis, flu and other gastroenteritis. Let us square the circle of fall-winter illnesses.
Behind their counter, the Charente pharmacists also note the agitation. “Since the first part of November, we have sold a lot more tests” notes Jeanne Lazard, manager of the Basseau pharmacy. She also vaccinates once morest covid and flu, “especially on people over 65, at risk, or health professionals”. Jean-Marc Glémot, pharmacist in Baignes and elected to the National Order of Pharmacists, confirms: “We are doing more tests and there is a lot of demand for self-tests”, underlines the professional. Reminding : “We have to bludgeon it, but the most important thing is to apply barrier gestures. If there is the slightest doubt, we wear the mask! »
No more absences from schools
Obviously, the increase in covid cases “comes back clearly” in educational establishments according to Cédric Lazaro, deputy director of the vocational high school and the Sainte-Marthe college, in Angoulême. “Even if we don’t necessarily have the reason, we are told no more covid. » With, last week, 47 students absent out of 600. It was 35 at the start of the month and 25 before the fall vacation. “Since mid-November, we have had more or less 40 students absent each week. »
Cédric Lazaro recalls that “the student can still come if he has covid, but he must wear a mask”. However, he does not see any in his establishment. Same rule for teachers: “I had two teachers absent last week. Otherwise, they work wearing a mask. »
The mask and barrier gestures are those that come up throughout discussions with health professionals. Good practices quickly went out of use: “If you are sick, barrier measures, masks and teleworking when possible” insists Gilles Raymond, general practitioner in L’Isle-d’Espagnac and president of the MG16 union. “The reflex should be automatic! »
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