Since midnight Friday, health measures have been tightened in 16 French departments. Occitania is not concerned, but the Covid-19 figures remain under scrutiny. In the Gard and east of the Hérault, as in Lunel, the progression of the virus is raising concerns.
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The Covid-19 epidemic is still far from being eradicated in France. In the space of a week, there are more than 10,000 new hospitalizations. Some regions are more affected than others: in his press conference last Thursday, Prime Minister Jean Castex announced a tightening of health measures for 16 French departments, mainly in Île-de-France and in Hauts-de-France .
While a “third wave” seems to be settling in, the Covid-19 figures are being scrutinized everywhere in France, and in particular in the departments of the Occitanie region.
[#Covid19] 1339 people hospitalized this evening in #Occitanie including 261 in intensive care and critical care and 31 deaths in 3 days in our health establishments
788,800 priority people were vaccinated in #Occitanie
Maintain barrier gestures
Consult the bulletin @ARS_OC pic.twitter.com/CCK3omAV5k— ARS Occitanie (@ARS_OC) March 19, 2021
At the end of February-beginning of March, the number of hospitalizations in the Gard was down. But for a little over two weeks, it has started to rise again: there are currently 202 hospitalizations, against 165 on March 4.
Unsurprisingly, these statistics are correlated with the rise in the incidence rate in the department. At the start of the month, there were an average of 240 positive cases per week per 100,000 inhabitants, a figure below the critical threshold of 250 set by the government. But today, the incidence rate fluctuates more around the 300 positive cases … if not more.
In Lunel, an incidence rate of around 400
Bordering the Gard, the city of Lunel is one of the areas of Hérault where the coronavirus is very present. Currently, the incidence rate is slightly below 400 positive cases per 100,000 inhabitants.
On this Sunday, market day, however, the Lunellois do not seem to deviate from the barrier gestures: they wear the mask to protect themselves from possible contamination. “We have grandparents and elderly people around us so we have to be careful”, recalls a young man.
On the Lunel market this Sunday March 21.
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© Franck Detranchant / France Télévisions.
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Sylviane is a figure of the market. According to this shopkeeper, the inhabitants of Lunel have been showing good citizenship since the first confinement … and the police are keeping a watchful eye.
Everyone wears the mask. The gendarmes and the police often come by: if you want to take off the mask for lunch or smoke a cigarette, they call you to order!
Also questioned, the mayor of the town Pierre Soujol wants to remain vigilant but is aware of the effort required of the population. “We fear the phenomenon of weariness. It’s been a year that it lasts and, humanly speaking, it becomes more difficult to manage. But we must remain vigilant, we have no choice with this rise in the incidence rate. ”
The city council has launched a prevention campaign “with positive images” to give hope to its citizens. “We want to tell them ‘Let’s not let go, the outcome is near'”, he concludes.
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