Bronchiolitis, Covid-19, influenza… Respiratory infections are actively circulating in France, especially in winter, as evidenced by the latest French public health bulletin of January 3. For people who are immunocompromised, such as transplant recipients, dialysis patients, or people with HIV or leukemia, the risks of getting sick and having poor health are especially high, even if they are vaccinated.
To “protect the most vulnerable”, the three associations Renaloo, Aides and ELLyE launched the “Mask of Solidarity” campaign from January 2 to 14 to encourage the French to wear masks, especially in enclosed public spaces (transport, cinemas, shops, etc.) ” By wearing a mask of solidarity – especially if it is FFP2 – we not only protect the most vulnerable, but also protect ourselves,” the associations write.
As of spring 2022, wearing a mask is no longer mandatory in indoor public spaces, but is still strongly recommended. Today, however, it is “very marginal,” point out the three associations, citing the latest CoviPrev survey: “Only 15% of French people wear a mask in the presence of vulnerable people, 14% on public transport and only one in two people intend to wear one if symptoms appear. »
If only the most vulnerable people wear masks in indoor public spaces, protection will remain inadequate, they warn.
Free distribution of 250,000 masks
Renaloo, Eides and ELLyE note that 300,000 people in France are immunocompromised. “The latter respond poorly or not at all to vaccination and are at increased risk of severe disease, hospitalization and death,” they warn, highlighting that to date “one in 20 dialysis patients have died from Covid and one in eight kidney transplant patients.” was hospitalized due to severe Covid.”
To promote this campaign and encourage everyone to wear masks, a distribution of 250,000 FFP2 and surgical masks will be organized on Saturday, January 6, at the Place de la République in Paris at 14:00.
Source: Le Parisien
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