Explosion in the number of anti-Covid tests: a record carried by the South-East and young people

It was a failure that caused a blemish.

Twice, last Friday, from 3 p.m. to midnight, then the morning of the following Saturday, pharmacists found themselves unable to connect to SI-DEP, the valuable system for entering anti-Covid test results.

Consequence: no vaccination certificate, no health "pass" or QR code for an unvaccinated person could be issued.

An unwelcome breakdown at the dawn of the weekend of August 15, and five days after the entry into force of the "health pass" on August 9.

Read also Health pass: the failure that prevented pharmacists from issuing QR codes is resolved

In question, an unprecedented fever of screening in France.

According to the latest figures released by Public Health France, this Friday, August 13 corresponded to an absolute record since the start of the pandemic: more than a million tests were carried out in a single day.

A rush towards tests, however, far from being homogeneous throughout the country and for all age groups, according to the figures that we were able to consult.

Absolute record of the number of tests over a day and over a week

In a single day, last August 13, no less than 1,028,000 tests were carried out across the country.

The previous record was dated December 23, 2020, with 756,000 tests performed.

At the time, the new restrictive instructions and the imminence of the end-of-year celebrations had caused a rush on the swabs.

As of mid-August, no less than 5.3 million tests have been carried out over a week.

As a benchmark, less than half, or 2.2 million, were made the week preceding the shock announcements of the President of the Republic, on July 12.

The screening map follows the contours of the epidemiological map

As of August 13, 2021, out of the 10 departments that have tested themselves the most, 9 are bordered by the Mediterranean.

Compared to the population, Corse-du-Sud, Haute-Corse and Bouches-du-Rhône form the top three, with nearly 27 tests per 1,000 inhabitants.

Follow the Alpes-Maritimes, Var, Hérault, Pyrénées-Orientales and Vaucluse.

If these departments are on the shores of the Mediterranean coast, they also correspond to the most contaminated metropolitan areas.

At a time when the use of the test is a way of obtaining a "health pass" without being vaccinated, it is also a weapon to ensure that one is not contaminated and that one does not spread oneself. - even the virus.

Two-thirds of those tested are under 40

Analysis of the latest data provided by health authorities shows that 20-29 year olds are the first age group to walk through the door of a city pharmacy or laboratory, i.e. 27%.

The 30-39 year olds, the 40-49 year olds and the 50-59 year olds follow with 23%, 15% and 10% respectively.

A proportion that corresponds almost exactly to the analysis of contamination data: 64% of people tested positive on August 13 were also under 40 years old.