Contamination cases still on the rise
The strong contagiousness of the Delta variant continues to wreak havoc in France, where the number of positive cases for Covid-19 continues to increase.
On Wednesday, 21,539 new people were infected, against 18,000 the day before and nearly 9,000 a week ago.
This is the first time since the beginning of May that the threshold of 20,000 contaminations per day has been exceeded.
This increase, however, has no impact on the number of patients in the hospital, which remains in decline.
In total, 6,869 patients with Covid-19 were hospitalized in France on Wednesday, according to figures from Public Health France, against 6,912 Tuesday and 7,047 seven days ago.
And 281 people were admitted to hospital within 24 hours.
Read also: Covid-19: have we already entered the fourth wave?
The health pass of rigor since Wednesday in cultural and leisure places
To go to the cinema, to the museum or to sports establishments, the French must now present proof of vaccination or a negative Covid-19 test.
For children between 12 and 17 years old, the deputies voted to postpone the health pass to the end of September.
During a hearing in the Senate, the Cnil, a regulatory body for the respect of data protection, did not oppose the extension of the pass, but asked the deputies to “clearly
define
” the new device which is a "
particularly strong
"
attack
on freedoms.
Read also: At the Louvre, at the library or at Mont-Saint-Michel, the sanitary pass is required year after year
The fourth wave "arrives" and "we must react", according to Jean Castex
Guest of the 13h of TF1 Wednesday, the Prime Minister explained in detail the application of the new measures announced to contain the epidemic.
In establishments subject to the health pass, owners will benefit from a "
week
" of "
teaching
" before any penalties are imposed.
In addition, the pass
"will not be compulsory"
in schools at the start of the school year ", while 12-17 year olds should not be subject to the health pass until September 30.
On the vaccination side, the head of government has set a target of 50 million first-time vaccines by the end of August.
Read also: Health pass: demining operation for Jean Castex
The Pyrénées-Orientales under pressure
The department of southern Occitania is worried: while the national average has an incidence rate of 87 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, that of the department has climbed to nearly 400 last week.
Since Friday, July 16, wearing a mask is once again compulsory everywhere outside except on the beach and in natural areas, while bars and restaurants are now forced to close at 11 p.m.
For the moment, to the relief of tourists, the beach escapes restrictions.
Read also: Covid-19: why has the health situation deteriorated so quickly in the Pyrénées-Orientales?
Return of the mask outdoors in several departments
First of all, the prefects are more and more numerous to reinstate the wearing of masks outdoors in certain particularly frequented areas.
After La Rochelle and the seaside resort of Royan, municipalities with more than 5,000 inhabitants in Meurthe-et-Moselle, or others in Hérault and Vendée, in particular where the incidence rate is equal to or greater than alert threshold of 50, rediscover the joys of the compulsory mask in the streets.
Read also: Inside and outside, wearing a mask turns into cacophony
Other departments on alert
Without having yet decided on new measures, other regions of France remain on the alert. The Occitanie ARS in particular launched an alert to the population, faced with an incidence rate which has tripled in 7 days and reached 170 cases per 100,000 inhabitants in all its departments. “
The evolution is dazzling in 20-30 year olds, less protected because less vaccinated. However, even if young people are less prone to severe forms, they are not spared from complications, in particular long Covid
, ”said the Agency.
For their part, the Pays de la Loire are particularly affected by the Delta variant, which "
launched its attack
" in the region, according to the scientific director of the ARS.
In the department of Maine-et-Loire, classified as limited vulnerability by Public Health France since July 7, 82% of contaminations are due to the Indian variant.
In Vendée, this rate rises to 87%.
According to the latest figures from Public Health France, 51 departments now have an incidence rate above the alert threshold.
In New Aquitaine in particular, the fourth wave linked to the spread of the Delta variant also seems to have already started, particularly in Gironde where the incidence rate has quadrupled in one week.
