The Omicron variant, of which a first French case has been identified on Reunion Island, continues to worry the whole world.
Nevertheless, the first threat "remains the Delta variant", insisted on Tuesday the epidemiologist and member of the Scientific Council Arnaud Fontanet.
Asked at the microphone of France Inter, the researcher from the Institut Pasteur explained that the priority is first of all to "slow down the fifth wave linked to the Delta variant, the one which threatens hospital services".
"If we do nothing, we should expect an epidemic peak in January," he said.
Pr Arnaud Fontanet, epidemiologist: "For the moment our enemy is the Delta variant" # le79inter pic.twitter.com/Wne7YpO9DL
- France Inter (@franceinter) November 30, 2021
The professor then recalled "the range of efforts" that everyone can lead in order to flatten this contamination curve as much as possible.
In the lead, make an appointment for the booster dose of the vaccine which is now open to all adults, but also the maintenance of barrier gestures, the "reflex to ventilate enclosed spaces" or "the reduction of 10% to 20% of our contacts ”.
"Focus on the booster dose"
Regarding the new Omicron variant, the epidemiologist recalls that additional data is needed to "take the exact measure" of this new threat. These should take place "within two to three weeks". In the meantime, "the weapons deployed against the Delta variant will be weapons against the Omicron variant", he assures, citing in passing the vaccine, the barrier gestures or the tests. "The important thing is to focus on the booster dose, because when Omicron starts to emerge, we will be better armed."
Same speech from the government spokesperson, Gabriel Attal who recalled the same Tuesday the importance of the recall.
“We do not have at this stage scientific confirmation that there would be a loss of efficacy of the vaccine on the Omicron variant.
It is a risk in principle, but we have no confirmation.
And even if there would be a decrease in this efficiency, we would not go from 96% to 0% ", supported the government spokesperson on Europe 1. And to add that" the risk today is the Delta variant, the one that makes 30,000 cases per day ”.
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Finally, Gabriel Attal returned for a few minutes to the detection of the first case of Omicron in France.
The positive patient for this variant identified in Reunion would have six contact persons at risk in his entourage, according to him.
“We have absolute vigilance.
We are awaiting other results of possible cases, including in France in the coming hours, ”he observed, while excluding for the moment the closure of borders.
