The ninth wave of the Covid-19 epidemic is “still progressing” in France, associated with an increase in hospitalizations and deaths, noted the French public health agency in a report for the week elapsed on December 4. Incidence rates continued to increase in all regions of mainland France, under the effect of a wave still driven by the Omicron variant.
Hospitalizations rose for the third consecutive week, the rate of new admissions however seeming to decline (+7%, against +13% the previous week). And deaths, in hospitals and in medico-social establishments, have started to increase again, “after several weeks of decline”.
A “completely unprecedented triple epidemic”
The “triple epidemic” facing France is “completely unprecedented” and its evolution still difficult to predict, underlined last week Public Health France. A surging Covid-19, early and ascending flu and bronchiolitis at record levels for more than a decade in infants are simultaneously impacting an already very strained health system.
“In this context and given the active circulation of several respiratory viruses”, Public Health France called once again on Thursday to strengthen vaccination for those most at risk. Adherence to barrier gestures, including the wearing of a mask, must “increase in particular to protect the most vulnerable”, also hammered the health agency.