According to the latest data from Public Health France, the threshold of 160,000 deaths linked to COVID-19 was crossed into the country.
A total of 160,008 people died, including 130,617 in hospital. The threshold of 150,000 dead had been exceeded on 8 July.
“The epidemic has not disappeared, the virus still kills and strikes again”, thrown Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne at the end of November at the National Assembly.
Nearly 40,000 dead in 2022
In 2022 alone, which is drawing to a close, France has nearly 40,000 deaths from Covid.
The epidemic, which had known a lull after a post-return wave, left for more than three weeks. It is carried by Omicron’s BQ.1.1 subvariant, which is gradually replacing BA.5.
Almost three years into the pandemic, this new wave is still increasing infections, but at a slower pace in recent days. The horizon of the epidemic peak is still uncertain.
As of Tuesday evening, there were 23,217 hospitalized patients, including 2,104 new admissions. One hundred and thirty-five patients have died in the hospital in the last 24 hours.
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Triple epidemic
Covid-19 adds to an early and ascending flu but also to bronchiolitis at record levels for more than ten years in newborns.
This “Triple Epidemic”which affects, as in other countries, an already tested health system, it is “completely new” and its evolution difficult to predict, Public Health France had stressed in early December.
However, the anti-Covid booster vaccination is lagging behind in France – like that against the flu – despite a recent rebound.
Only “2.8 million people have been vaccinated against Covid-19 since the beginning of October, far fewer than our European neighbours”so Health Minister François Braun underlined last week, referring specifically to the ongoing recall campaign.
“Anyone” can be vaccinated, says Braun
Calling for a jump, the minister hammered that everyone could “get vaccinated” with an anti-Covid reminder, while the autumn vaccination communication has been criticized for its confusion. This message was conveyed to professionals on Tuesday by the Directorate General of Health.
On the use of the mask, the government always refrains from making it an obligation in closed and busy places, to the displeasure of health professionals, epidemiologists or patient associations.
