Covid-19 in Corsica: The rural now under pressure as much as the cities

The director of the ARS takes stock as the figures continue their inexorable rise. Curfews, tests, hospitals, spread in villages, the need for increased awareness, Marie-Hélène Lecenne repeats it, awareness is more relevant than ever.

Health situation on the rise

The incidence rate is increasing again, as shown by the figures recorded for last week, knowing that from one week to another these indicators are not consolidated until Tuesday at the end of the weekend. “We are going to exceed an incidence rate of 250 per 100,000 inhabitants, previews Marie-Hélène Lecenne. As for the positivity rate, it will probably settle around 11.5 compared to 10.7 last week. “

The curve of over 65s continues to grow, a matter of major concern, as evidenced by the entries over the weekend.

Raw data, plus two deaths

As of yesterday, 63 people were hospitalized, including 11 in intensive care. The number of patients in intensive care is the same as that of March 25.

In Corse-du-Sud, 27 people with Covid-19 are hospitalized (+ 4 compared to the day before) including 6 in intensive care or continuing care (- 2 compared to the day before). We record 5 new entries, no new return home.

In Haute-Corse, 36 people with Covid-19 are hospitalized (+1 compared to Sunday) including 5 in intensive care or continuing care (the state compared to the day before). 2 new entries, no new return home.

Since the start of the epidemic, 75 deaths (+ 2 new deaths to be deplored, one at the Ajaccio hospital center and one at the Bastia hospital center) have been recorded at the hospital: 56 at the Ajaccio CH and 19 at the Bastia CH. Since September 13, 14 deaths have been linked to Covid-19 in hospitals, the average age of those who died being 82 years old.

Clusters, three new ones identified

The first two concern health establishments (one public and one private). The third concerns the village of Antisanti where 6 people have tested positive. The investigation during the weekend showed the existence of links between these people, leading to the classification of this chain of contamination in cluster.

Curfew, for what result?

Established in Corsica since midnight Saturday and for a period of at least six weeks, the measure is debated. At the end of the day, one question, when will we be able to verify its effectiveness? “For the moment, we do not have an evaluation at the national level nor at the regional level, the decision is too recent. But in general, the first effects are felt between ten and fifteen days, first on the incidence rate, then on hospitalizations. “

Inescapable, the curfew? “In any case, it can trigger awareness. And to help understand that we are in the second wave of the epidemic when, given our capacities and our concern to maintain as much as possible a double chain of care, we are in a tense context. Hence the triggering of the white plan last week. “

White plan and six difficult weeks

For the Bastia hospital, five additional places were created in the conventional hospitalization sector, indicates the director of the ARS, while for the Ajaccio hospital, it is in intensive care that we proceeded an increase in the bed capacity, the service being used as a regional remedy in the event of an overflow in Bastia.

“The combination of the occupancy rate by Covid patients of conventional hospitalization and intensive care, coupled with the increase in the curve for over 65s – by adding the average length of stay of people in hospital and intensive care which is about fifteen days – logically leads to a worrying tension. This will force us to go crescendo in the deprogramming of care, and suddenly, to reduce the supply of care for other pathologies. “

If the curfew is not effective, predicts Marie-Hélène Lecenne, the next six weeks lie ahead “Very delicate. Notably because all the establishments in France and Corsica are trying to maintain the dual channel. In addition, care must be taken to prevent the medico-social sector from becoming the third source of hospital demands due to potential clusters ”.

Public-private, operational

“The Maymard clinic, that of Furiani and Clinisud are in the process of taking charge of the deportation of the two hospitals since, on the Bastia side, to mobilize additional premises and human resources, we have had to deprogram outpatient surgery, and on Ajaccio’s side, to succeed in increasing the resuscitation capacity, orthopedic surgery was deprogrammed. “

Rural and urban, same tension

For the director of the ARS, no hesitation, “The countryside is now as affected as the cities. In Antisanti, we are in contact with the mayor and health professionals to offer screening to all residents during the week.

The island way of life with trips back and forth between villages and towns is no stranger to this observation. At this stage, we can no longer distinguish the urban issue from the rural issue, the incidence rate is very high everywhere ”.

Cemeteries, what risks?

The prefects have made arrangements so that the wearing of a mask is compulsory in cemeteries, confirms Marie-Hélène Lecenne, and “We call on the population, when they buy the flowers or when they go to the graves to be extremely respectful of the rules of protection”.

Awareness campaigns, the flop?

“I think there is probably a weariness, I can hear it. At the same time, we must put an end to received ideas. When we get together at fifty for a party, we think we are only going to contaminate the fifty. However, not at all, the chain of contamination goes beyond the initial circle and we are not always in control of this distribution chain. “

Tests, what about antigens?

Regarding the diagnosis, priority is always given to symptomatic cases and contact cases, explains the director of the Regional Agency, who recalls that tests are also offered to travelers on their arrival in Corsica. “We are in the process of deploying antigenic tests, the use of which will be generalized for all personnel in the medico-social sector as of next week.

In addition, this weekend, we worked on a protocol with all health establishments in order to combine antigenic tests and RT-PCR tests, in addition, in emergency services and unscheduled medical receptions as well as at the entrance to clinics. This protocol will be distributed tomorrow (today, editor’s note). The idea is to have greater speed of results in order to be able to direct towards the right sector. “

A pallet (or 8,000 units) of antigenic tests has already arrived in Bastia, one is due to arrive this week in Ajaccio and six other pallets are expected for next week.

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