Through Essonne editorial staff
Published on 18 May 21 at 10:40
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One day before the second and main phase of deconfinement on May 19, 2021, the situation on the Covid-19 continues to improve in Essonne. The incidence rate virus (202) has passed below the maximum alert threshold set by the government at 250 new cases per 100,000 inhabitants.
A very rapid drop
To find traces of such low circulation of the coronavirus in the department, we must go back to January 25, 2021, before the start of the third wave. Above all, this decline is very rapid. A month ago, the incidence rate was 500 new infections per 100,000 people.
The English variant still in the majority
The virus’s reproduction rate also fell from 1.2 at the end of March to 0.77 on May 13. That is to say that now a positive person infects less than one person on average, which de facto decreases the spread of the virus.
The positivity rate of the tests carried out in the department has fallen to 6.5%, after having more than 14% last month. Among these positive tests, the English strain of the virus is the most represented (68.9%) according to the screening tests. The Brazilian and South African variants represent 7.6% of positive cases.
Fewer Covid-19 patients in hospitals
In hospitals, this drop is less brutal, but it does exist. A month after the peak of the third wave when there were 901 patients hospitalized because of Covid-19, they are around 180 fewer today (724).
The number of patients with a severe form of the virus and treated in intensive care is also decreasing: 123 beds are currently occupied, 50 less than at the end of April. However, hospital pressure remains high with an occupancy rate of 127%.
Vaccination is progressing
At the same time, vaccination continues to progress in Essonne where now 24% of the population has received at least one dose of vaccine.
After a first shift to 7 p.m. in mid-March, the curfew will pass to 9 p.m. on Wednesday, May 19, 2021 before disappearing completely as of June 30. Terraces for bars, cafes and restaurants will reopen as well as shops, cinemas and other cultural sites.
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