The number of clusters, namely groupings of Covid-19 cases, is increasing in France but the "circulation indicators" of the SARS-CoV-2 virus remain "at low levels", according to the French public health agency (SpF ). In its weekly update on the epidemic, the health agency notes a "slight increase in the number of new clusters", but an "absence of uncontrolled community dissemination".
As in previous weeks, SpF especially notices the absence of "signals in favor of a resumption of the epidemic". Between June 7 and June 13, 2,837 patients tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, or 1.3% of the 214,252 PCR tests performed this week in the country, a rate down compared to the week before (1.5%).
However, the weekly number of clusters discovered in France increased from 29 to 37 in the space of seven days. As of June 16, a total of 74 clusters were "under investigation" in the country.
Half of the “closed” clusters
These mainly concern health establishments (20%), private and public companies, excluding health (19%) and extended family environments (16%). An analysis by department shows that the largest number of clusters under investigation are in Guyana (12), in the North (6) and in Loire-Atlantique (5).
Out of a total of 239 clusters discovered since May 9, half are now considered to be “closed” (no new cases declared after the 14-day isolation period imposed on people in contact with the sick), and 19% are considered "controlled" (absence of new cases seven days after the last case).
A cluster is defined as the occurrence of at least three confirmed or probable cases over a period of 7 days in the same community or among people who participated in the same gathering. This balance of SpF does not take into account the clusters in the Ehpad or those which occur in small family environments, limited to one family.