All signals are green.
For several weeks now, the Covid epidemic seems to be slowly receding.
So much so that the government plans to adapt the rules of the health pass, a subject that will be discussed Wednesday, September 22 in the Defense Council.
However, specialists consider that with the arrival of autumn and the cold, an epidemic resumption is not to be ruled out.
In an interview with the
Parisian
, Professor Arnaud Fontanet warns in particular on this subject: "
We had observed the same lull at the end of September 2020, before a cold snap which had triggered the second wave in France and in neighboring countries
", the member of the Scientific Council, who "
therefore expects a restart of the epidemic in the fall
".
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Covid-19: what we know about the Delta variant
Covid-19: the third vaccine dose, instructions for use
Read also Local health pass: will your department be able to claim a lifting of restrictions?
However, the scientist is not against easing restrictions, and in particular the establishment of a local health pass.
“
But if we remove the health pass in certain departments, the rule must be clear for everyone.
The French must bear in mind that it can be reinstated as quickly as it was lifted,
”he warns, recalling that we are“
not out of the woods
”.
"Reduce our exchanges" during the winter period
In order to get through this coming winter period, Professor Arnaud Fontanet does not recommend new measures.
But he estimates that it will be necessary "to
reduce our exchanges by 20 to 40%
".
"
Concretely, this means using the health pass, wearing a mask in a closed environment, accepting fewer requests, maintaining the test-alert-protect, a little telework when possible and more screening in schools
", he enumerates.
Fortunately, today, “
vaccination acts as a shield
” and “
allows us to avoid more drastic decisions like curfews
”.
Read alsoCovid-19: should we fear the arrival of winter?
Injections against the Covid could also settle permanently in the lives of some French people. “
Perhaps [the Covid] will join the other four seasonal coronaviruses that cause colds or tonsillitis. Or will it keep a higher severity. In this case, reminders will be necessary for the most vulnerable before the winter period
”, warns Professor Fontanet.
