Coronavirus: the epidemic takes hold in the cacophony

This time, let's go! The Covid-19 epidemic started in France, and the Minister of Health Olivier Véran announced Friday evening that the country was going to phase 2 of the epidemic. It is now a question of slowing down the spread of the virus on the territory . "A new stage in the epidemic has been reached," said the minister from the Oise. In Hauts-de-France, about twenty cases appeared in less than 48 hours without direct link with the known risk areas, and the results increased again on Friday evening, to reach 57 cases of contamination, or 19 new ones.

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No need to panic, of course, but for the past few days, the government seems to be falling behind the epidemic every time. And first of all on communication. In the age of social networks, channels and continuous news sites, the Ministry of Health sticks to a single late daily press point. " I find that we learn more on TV than through official bodies ," comments, biting, a doctor from the north of France.

Out of approximately 4,000 calls to Samu, approximately 500 are devoted to the coronavirus

Already on Thursday, an infectious disease specialist, Prof. Éric Caumes had tried to warn the President of the Republic while visiting the Pitié Salpêtrière hospital, about the gap between events and official announcements: " The virus is already circulating among us , explained the boss of the infectious diseases department. That's the truth, unfortunately, that we must have to announce . ” The executive remained convinced that it should remain at stage 1 of the pandemic plan, where the objective is to slow the introduction of the virus into the territory. " The second stage we will be there if we see groups of cases appearing at several points in the territory ," insisted Prime Minister Édouard Philippe on Thursday. So it's done.

The medical emergency number, 15, normally reserved for people with symptoms, is bombarded with calls that should have gone to the information hotline 0800 130 000. “ Out of approximately 4,000 calls to Samu, around 500 are devoted to the coronavirus, "explained Friday on BFM, Professor Pierre Carli, head of the Samu regulatory service in Paris.

"A little more serious"

More serious, the massive quarantine of potentially exposed hospital staff. In the Oise, this decision deprives the Creil hospital of resuscitation service and cuts that of Compiègne from half of its resuscitation beds. Equally annoying are the failures in preparing general practitioners to deal with the epidemic. Friday, Dr. Jérôme Marty, president of the UFML doctors union, announced on Twitter that two general practitioners had already tested positive, and three others placed in quarantine. Here are at least five doctors out of the game, right when we're going to need them the most. It is at least the sign of a lack of anticipation.

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" A little more seriously," asked Dr. Marty to the health authorities obsessed with the hospital. Because two months after the start of the epidemic in China, the liberal doctors, on the front line, have still not received a FFP2 type protective mask! "We can see that the virus is already circulating, we are not going to panic, but we, doctors, caregivers, etc., need to exercise in good conditions, and to be protected in order to be precisely on the on the ground and taking care of people (…) We will have to speed up the distribution of means of protection for carers and in particular liberal carers. ”

We must protect the countries that are most vulnerable

To fight an epidemic, " There is not a single ready-to-wear approach valid everywhere, " explained on February 24 Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director of the World Health Organization, " but there is at least three priorities . " " All countries must prioritize the protection of caregivers, second, we must engage communities to protect those most at risk of serious illness, especially the elderly and those with underlying health conditions, third , we must protect the countries that are most vulnerable, doing our best to contain the epidemic in those countries that have the capacity to do so . ”

An Italian script

Protecting caregivers is not only crucial in fighting the epidemic, it is also crucial because they are at increased risk. In China, 3.8% of the 44,672 confirmed cases concerned health workers, two thirds of which were in Wuhan. Among them, 15% were considered severe or critical, and five deaths were recorded according to a study published on February 24 in Jama .

It is also high time to warn the French of the measures awaiting them. If only to avoid rumors and panics. It is not yet useful to rush into the purchase of cans, pulp or toilet paper, but it can be useful to anticipate on possible closings of nurseries and educational establishments, at the territorial or national scale. These measures are possible at stage 2 of the French pandemic plan.

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Other radical measures can have a major impact on the daily life of French people, for example the restriction of visits to collective accommodation establishments, the possible suspension of certain public transport or the restriction of large gatherings and collective activities. An Italian scenario that seems more likely than ever in France. Last night, Olivier Véran already invited the French to "avoid the handshake" .