To measure whether the Covid-19 epidemic is approaching its peak in France, the health authorities consider that the number of people admitted to intensive care is "the most important element". This was said by the Director General of Health, Jérôme Salomon, on Sunday evening March 29, during his daily checkup.
If confinement is respected, "we should observe a reduction in the number of people requiring admission to intensive care from the end of this week," he said. But without specifying whether he meant the new admissions to intensive care per day or the total number of patients cared for in these services.
Since then, every evening, between 7 p.m. and 8 p.m., Jérôme Salomon has given numerous figures on the state of the coronavirus epidemic in France. It indicates in particular the number of patients hospitalized in intensive care, as well as the difference compared to the previous day. "6,662 serious cases" were thus treated this Friday. This represents "263 additional patients" compared to Thursday, against + 382 in 24 hours Thursday evening, + 452 Wednesday, + 458 Tuesday and + 475 Monday.
Good news
It is therefore a balance corresponding to the difference between those entering intensive care and those who left. This figure makes it possible to measure the increase in the level of tension in the intensive care units, all the more so that on the scale of the country, this number of 6662 patients treated (last assessment available) is already higher than the theoretical capacity. from the country. The fact that it has dropped so much in the past five days is therefore good news.
But another indicator seems just as interesting to observe: the number of new patients admitted to intensive care in 24 hours. This criterion can make it possible to measure concretely the evolution of the epidemic, and in particular the effects of containment measures.
The problem is that for a very long time, it was not given publicly by Jérôme Salomon during his daily review. But this Friday, April 3, things have changed. "In the past 24 hours, 641 new cases have been admitted to intensive care against 729 yesterday," said the Director General of Health.
641 new admissions Friday, 767 Tuesday
Jérôme Salomon would have given this figure publicly after being alerted on this point by Checknews Friday afternoon, as the site said.
To obtain the number of people admitted to intensive care each day before Thursday, you have to delve into the latest epidemiological bulletin from Public Health France, dated March 31. It says that 543 new admissions to resuscitation were reported on March 29, 694 on March 30 and 767 on March 31.
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By taking up the words of Jérôme Salomon Friday evening, we know that this number was 729 Thursday April 2 and 641 Friday April 3. However, at the time of this writing, we do not have data for Wednesday, April 1. "After verification, this figure has only been given for two days, we do not have the figure for April 1, 2020", indicates this Saturday to the Parisian the Directorate General of Health, while Public Health France was not yet able to respond to us.
We still see a downward trend between Tuesday and Friday. This is good news for the spread of the coronavirus, although these new hospitalizations in "sheave" remain at a very high level.
It remains to be seen whether Jérôme Salomon will now give the number of new patients arriving in intensive care each evening during the past 24 hours. First response this Saturday evening.
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