The return of the mandatory mask in trains, metros, buses and planes? For now, this is only a possibility. But she is ” in the study “, recognized the Minister of Health François Braun at the microphone of RTL, Tuesday, October 4. Professor Brigitte Autran, president of the Committee for monitoring and anticipating health risks (Covars), also indicated that this body, successor to the scientific council, was currently looking into this question.
The latest statistics from Public Health France indeed indicate a strong circulation of Covid-19. The number of people who tested positive thus increased by 24.6% in seven days to reach the total of 66,564 cases as of October 5. “These figures are very underestimated”estimates epidemiologist Antoine Flahault, director of the Institute of Global Health in Geneva, stressing that the number of tests carried out is relatively low.
An eighth wave underway
Be that as it may, other indicators confirm a clear epidemic recovery: + 21% for hospitalizations, + 27% for emergency room visits, + 16% for new critical care admissions and + 5% for deaths. , according to the latest epidemiological bulletin from Public Health France covering the period from September 19 to 25. This eighth wave also occurs in a season of the year during which other respiratory viruses, such as bronchiolitis, will also weigh on the healthcare system.
At the same time, the health authorities are calling on some 17 million people – over 60, nursing home residents, immunocompromised, pregnant women, caregivers… – to receive an additional dose of anti-Covid serum, with vaccines adapted to the variant. Omicron. This campaign began Monday, October 3, when only 34.8% of eligible 60-79 year olds and 48.3% of eligible 80+ year olds have had their second booster so far.
“This decision belongs to the politicians”
In France, the obligation to wear a mask in public transport was lifted on May 16. Since then, it is simply recommended, especially for people who are fragile or have symptoms. “These are places with very strong promiscuity, recalls Antoine Flahault. If people are disciplined and follow the recommendations, there will be no need to go further. If not, the obligation may be the right decision. But this decision belongs to the politicians, not to the scientists. »
Head of the clinical immunology and infectious diseases department at the Henri-Mondor hospital in Créteil (Val-de-Marne), Jean-Daniel Lelièvre does not want to take the place of politicians on this subject either. “But we have to do pedagogy, it’s very important”, he reaffirmed during a press briefing by the ANRS research agency, emerging infectious diseases. For him, wearing a mask should be “systematic” for vulnerable people using public transport.