While the coronavirus still seems to be circulating a little more in the Val-d'Oise than in the neighboring departments, the tests are increasing in the territory. This Monday, it was in Cergy, at the gates of the Grand Center RER station, that a screening center was installed. This Tuesday, the same device will be deployed in the East. In the coming days, residents will be able to go for free testing in Villiers-le-Bel and Garges-lès-Gonesse and Gousssainville *.
A positivity rate higher than the regional average
Between July 18 and 24, 9,529 tests were carried out in the Val-d'Oise. According to the regional health agency (ARS), the positivity rate is 2.73% in the department. By way of comparison, it is 1.7% in Île-de-France and 1.3% nationally.
The incidence rate (estimated on the basis of the number of positive RT-PCR tests per 100,000 inhabitants and recalculated every week) is thus to date 19.15 in the department, against 14.2 in Île-de-France and 8.8 nationally. Since May 11, sixteen clusters have been identified in Val-d'Oise, specifies the ARS, of which, to date, nine closed and seven still active.
In the ranks of some 500 people who came to undergo a screening test in Cergy on Monday, there was no particular anxiety linked to these figures. But everyone takes the virus seriously. “I have had a fever since yesterday,” explains Maeva, 19. “When in doubt, I preferred to come and get tested as soon as I got out of work. The young resident of Vauréal works for the 3-Fontaines hypermarket, a summer job that puts her in contact with many people. “Today I worked with a mask and gloves,” she explains. “My mom is fragile, I don't want to pass it on to her. "
"I want to be reassured"
Laure, mother, also waited more than an hour in the heat to be able to be detected. It is the health of her two children that concerns her. "I work in a nursery, I take public transport, I go shopping, I tell myself that I am exposed and I am afraid of transmitting the disease to my son and my daughter who are vulnerable", explains the resident of Pontoise. “I want to be reassured. Besides, I'm traveling abroad in a week so I want to be able to leave with peace of mind. "
Rudy came on the recommendation of the ARS. “I have a fellow trainee who tested positive, I learned about it two weeks ago,” said the 24-year-old Parisian. “I was only called now and told to get tested. I was in Cergy at my girlfriend's house, I stayed locked up until I could get tested. Rudy waited over an hour and a half with a good book. “I have no symptoms, but I am starting another internship next week, I want to be sure I can go. "
"People come back in droves to be tested"
It is not only the flying screening centers, set up by the ARS, which are operating at full capacity at the moment. In the east of Val-d'Oise, private laboratories - pushed by the public authorities to carry out more and more tests - are on the verge of saturation.
"There are queues of tens of minutes so there are people, launches this biologist from Sarcelles. People are coming back to get tested. The fear of a second wave exists! "Her counterpart from Fosses confides to be" overwhelmed ". “We have staff on vacation or on sick leave. But the state asks us to do as many tests as possible, so we don't stop. We have to handle very quickly, which unfortunately leads to a real risk of error. "
Overloaded laboratories
Exhausted, Anne goes on long days in her laboratory in Gonesse to meet an ever increasing demand. “I go to bed at 9 pm every night to hold on and not let go of the patients. It's very hard ! Breathes the doctor. The biologist sees the number of Covid-19 cases on the rise. About fifty tests carried out, about 10% are positive. "It is worrying, especially since the territory was extremely affected during the confinement, underlines Anne. Health authorities and residents must be extra vigilant. "
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Screening in Villiers-le-Bel this Tuesday from 10 am to 6 pm at the service center, 32, avenue Alexis-Varagne; at Garges on Tuesday from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Fort de Sains and Wednesday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Place de l'Hotel-de-ville; in Goussainville, Saturday August 1 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Charmeuse market.