The long fifth wave of the coronavirus epidemic had been in decline for a few weeks, but it has started to rise again for several days. Not enough to worry the government, however, which even foresees a peak in contamination soon. “What is important to understand, what the Scientific Council and the models of the Institut Pasteur tell us, is that indeed, it will go up for ten or fifteen days, probably until the end of March. We risk reaching 120,000-150,000 contaminations per day, and then we expect a decrease, ”said Health Minister Oliver Véran on France Info on Wednesday.
While almost all health restrictions have been lifted in France since Monday, health authorities thus identified more than 116,000 cases in twenty-four hours on Tuesday (compared to 80,000 two weeks ago). Despite everything, Oliver Véran ensures that the government was aware of this “risk of rebound” and that it made “the right decision”. “The most fundamental thing is that the hospital load (…) will be contained,” he said. There is “no risk of saturation of hospitals”, according to him.
“A movement of general relaxation in France”
Asked about a “trivialization of the epidemic”, Olivier Véran defended himself by recalling the authorization given to patients aged 80 and over to receive a booster dose, the maintenance of the health pass in health establishments and establishments. medico-social services, the maintenance of the vaccination obligation for caregivers and the continued obligation to wear a mask in public transport.
“There is a movement of general relaxation in France, we must not hide it, in Europe and in the rest of the world (…). It was expected but the vigilance continues, ”said Olivier Véran. About the long Covids, the minister estimated at “60,000 to 70,000 French people who retain the symptoms which can be disabling”.