The trend was clearly downward since the end of August.
But the number of Covid-19 screening tests is on the rise again, according to the Drees (Directorate of Research, Studies, Evaluation and Statistics).
During the week of November 8-14, 2.1 million RT-PCR and antigen tests were performed, up from 1.8 million the week before.
Among them, 110,000 are saliva tests, taken as part of the start of the school year following the All Saints holidays, in particular marked by the return of the mask to school in nearly 40 departments - before this measure was extended to the whole territory.
Increased time before collection
The number of tests had fallen sharply in October, especially among the youngest, with the end of reimbursement of screenings for adults not vaccinated and without a prescription.
Read alsoFifth wave of Covid: should the tests be made free again for all?
Faced with the epidemic resumption, some experts believe that this measure should be reconsidered, in particular because of the risk of not detecting the asymptomatic, but also because the time between the onset of symptoms and the sample has increased, reaching 2 ,5 days.
But this is not the opinion of the government.
At the exit of the Council of Ministers, this Wednesday, Gabriel Attal assured that it was not planned.
