The queues in front of pharmacies and laboratories never stop stretching on the sidewalks.
Last week, the number of validated tests hit a new record, climbing to levels not seen since the start of the pandemic, according to the Directorate of Research, Studies, Evaluation and Statistics (Drees), attached at the Ministry of Health.
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Between December 13 and 19, more than 6.2 million tests were validated, a figure up 6.9% from the previous week.
The previous weekly record, set at around 5.7 million, was reached in mid-August.
The fifth wave drove demand to stratospheric levels, pulverizing the level reached last year, just before the holidays, when a peak of 3.85 million tests was seen.
With the approach of Christmas, demand does not weaken: "
the record for the number of tests is broken
", comments soberly the Drees.
With the closure of schools, the number of tests carried out for 0-15 year olds drops, as does the number of saliva tests, but it is increasing in all other age groups, particularly for 16-40 year olds.
Significant demand expected around Christmas
A sign of the strength of demand, more than a million tests were carried out every day, from Tuesday 14 to Friday 17 December inclusive.
The daily record goes back to August 20, with more than 1.1 million tests recorded in twenty-four hours.
But the current rush for direct debits may well render this previous peak obsolete, especially in the days around Christmas.
Last Friday, already, more than 1.09 million tests were carried out ...
The curves should continue to grow: all players are anticipating exceptionally high demand in the coming weeks, driven both by the scale of the Omicron wave and by the desire of the French to be tested before joining their loved ones for them. Christmas and New Year. The scientific authorities, including Professor Jean-François Delfraissy, at the head of the Scientific Council, have widely called for more samples to spend Christmas in complete safety, while avoiding contamination.
Be careful, however: a person wishing to be tested should anticipate, warn professionals.
“
Our testing capacity is not unlimited [...].
We have quintupled our capacities in one year, but today, we cannot test everyone
”, explained to Figaro, yesterday, a representative of the Association for the progress of medical biology (APBM), which brings together 85% private laboratories.
Better to arm yourself with patience to be tested, then.
