The number of Covid-19 cases is higher in the 43 municipalities of the metropolis of Rennes than in the rest of Brittany. The virus particularly affects young people. Update on the situation in four questions (and answers).
Is the situation alarming in the Rennes metropolitan area?
Alarming, perhaps not. But tense, yes. The authorities are monitoring Rennes metropolis very closely. “The virus is there and is circulating”, does not hide the prefect of Brittany, Michèle Kirry.
“There is an incidence rate in the metropolis of 55 positive cases of covid per 100,000 inhabitants”, explains Stéphane Mulliez, Director General of the Regional Health Agency (ARS) of Brittany. A higher rate than in the rest of Ille-et-Vilaine (33 cases per 100,000 inhabitants) and than in Brittany (21 cases per 100,000 inhabitants). “There is a more active circulation of the virus in urban areas and in particular Rennes Métropole”, insists the prefect.
However, “The number of cases diagnosed each week in Rennes mainland is identical to the national average”, puts Stéphane Mulliez into perspective.
Other ” good news “, according to the director of the ARS, « The health situation has no impact, for the moment, on hospitalizations, in particular at the Rennes University Hospital. We have, across Brittany, five or six people in intensive care. We obviously remain cautious. “
“The virus is circulating, repeats Michèle Kirry. Yes, it affects young people more and more, but it kills little. “
Are there more cases because we are testing more?
Yes, of course … “The testing capacities have been greatly increased in recent weeks, recalls the favorite of Brittany, Michèle Kirry. Since May 4, 309,524 tests have been carried out in Brittany. “
For Ille-et-Vilaine, “Since the start of the summer, screening capacities have quadrupled, explains Stéphane Mulliez. And we say to ourselves, if you test more, you find more, that’s normal. “ Except that other calculations show that, ” the virus positivity rate has been multiplied by 6 or 7 in Ille-et-Vilaine. he is around 3% in Rennes metropolis (compared to 4% in France). It increases faster as increased screening. “
What to be alarmed about? Not yet. Because “The critical threshold for the positivity rate has been set at 5% and le alert threshold set at 10%. ” “Overall, Brittany remains a spared region”, wants to reassure Michèle Kirry.
Why does the virus affect young people more?
Yes, “The virus particularly affects young people, insists the director general of the ARS. The 16-35 year olds (and in particular the 16-25 year olds) represent the vast majority of positive cases in Brittany (as in the rest of France). “
Why ? “Aged and vulnerable people protect themselves better. Summer, and now the start of the school year, has also encouraged the displacement of young populations. However, they observe barrier gestures less than their elders, everyone can see. “
A cluster was thus created in early August, after an evening with young people, in a rented gîte in Saint-Malo.
The danger : “About half of positive cases in young people are asymptomatic. It is a different management of the epidemic we are facing ”, continues Stéphane Mulliez. “This makes it all the more essential to respect barrier gestures”, hammers the prefect.
To educate the youngest, “The ARS communicated a lot on social networks, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat… underlines its director. Our posts have been viewed by over 500,000 people. And we will continue this work. “
What happens if a case is discovered in a school?
In Rennes, which has 67,000 students, or a quarter of the population, the start of the school year has therefore been placed under close surveillance. “A protocol is in place to carry out tracing, and identify risky contacts of schoolchildren or college students, as soon as a case of Covid is suspected”, indicates Stéphane Mulliez. If necessary, it is the prefect who decides to close a class, as has already been the case in Morbihan.
For the moment, no case has been reported in Rennes mainland. “But we will find out, ensures, without illusion, the prefect. We have sent all the mayors of Ille-et-Vilaine the procedure to follow. Life must go on. Findings of infected children or teachers will not result in the closure of the entire school. It will be assessments on a case by case basis. We will look at how the canteen is organized, whether it is not only necessary to isolate a few children, simply to close a class … “
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