With nearly 1,250 people infected per 100,000 inhabitants in the metropolis niçoisethe epidemic of coronavirus seems to be picking up once more following a brief lull. But since the end of February, “we have hardly anyone in intensive care”, observes Professor Christian Pradier, head of the department of public health at the University Hospital of Nice.
How can we interpret the latest Covid-19 indicators?
Since the beginning of 2022, record figures have been recorded with 4,000 positive cases per 100,000 inhabitants in January, then a rapid fall in mid-February and once more an ascent to reach more than 1,200 people infected. This is not worrying in the sense of looking at it simply: this new Omicron BA2 subvariant is more contagious but not more serious. It was noted that in wastewater, the circulation of the virus is very important. However, we have hardly anyone left in intensive care and we have a plateau of around a hundred patients in conventional hospitalizations since the end of February. They only stay a few days under surveillance.
How can we anticipate a possible next wave?
We can not. Anyone who has tried to imagine a scenario before has been wrong. What we thought was true for summer in 2020 was not true in 2021. Covid-19 is a complex phenomenon, full of uncertainties. We must follow and adjust our strategy according to the known situation via the data collected. The solution is to know how to adapt and find new organizational capacities. We are doing things that we did not do before, such as the Sico, the intensive care unit, where we allowed patients to be oxygenated without putting them in intensive care and avoiding more saturation.
What should be considered for the future?
Even if there are fewer serious forms, it should not be forgotten that there are nevertheless people at risk, very fragile such as the elderly, obese, hypertensive, immunocompromised. We must therefore remain cautious and do not forget barrier gestures, hand washing and wearing a mask. Reflexes that also protect once morest other diseases that are also circulating a lot at the moment.
The latest Covid figures for the Alpes-Maritimes department
According to the latest figures from Public Health France, published on the Covid tracker site, 1,293 people were positive for Covid-19 per 100,000 inhabitants last Wednesday in the Alpes-Maritimes. The positivity rate, i.e. the proportion of positive tests in all tests, was 24.6%. And 27% of intensive care beds were occupied by Covid-19 patients. In all, 410 people are hospitalized and 24 in intensive care.
