Covid-19: 9th wave slowdown confirmed and starting to reverberate in hospital

The current wave of Covid-19 in France is slowing down in terms of infections and hospitalizations. This is evidenced by the weekly data of the health authorities for Thursday. Last week, the circulation of the coronavirus “slowed down throughout the country, but remained at a high level,” the French public health agency summarizes in a bulletin published on its website.

“The fall in incidence and positivity was observed in almost all regions and age groups,” she explains. The epidemic, which survived the lull after the wave at the end of the summer, resumed for more than a month. This rebound has resulted in a number of Covid hospitalizations – more than 25,000 – unprecedented since last spring.

But the current wave seems to have reached its peak. For several days now, the daily number of new cases – 49,517 on Thursday – has been steadily falling. This possible surge is starting to translate into the hospital. Last week, the number of new hospitalizations fell by 4% to 8,354 patients. However, only in intensive care is the trend slightly increasing (+1% to 737 hospitalizations).

“Triple epidemic” with influenza and bronchiolitis

This evolution only gives an idea of ​​the situation at the national level. In some regions, French Public Health notes that the number of hospitalizations continues to rise.

This wave is contributing to the “triple epidemic” that is testing the healthcare system. Covid is indeed adding to the flu epidemic sweeping across the metropolitan area and to bronchiolitis at record levels in infants for over a decade, despite a recent slowdown.

Therefore, the health agency reiterated its calls for influenza and Covid vaccinations for people at risk, especially the elderly, and respect for gestures such as wearing a mask in closed and high traffic areas.

In addition, another health agency, the Directorate General of Health, warned Thursday in a message to caregivers that COVID-19 antibody treatment is no longer recommended in France. This follows the conclusion that these drugs have lost their effectiveness against current variants of the coronavirus. On the other hand, health authorities are seeking to expedite the issuance of prescriptions for another type of treatment, Pfizer’s Paxlovid tablets.