“All the ingredients for the situation to become dramatic”: faced with the rebound of Covid-19, a specialist is sounding the alarm – Nice matin

What can you say about the situation in France in the face of the sharp rise in Covid-19 cases? We are very vigilant. Due to the prevalence of BA.5, which is growing rapidly. These days we are witnessing a very rapid increase in cases of Covid-19. An increase which is explained by the very significant contagiousness of BA.5. But the situation is not worrying, except of course for people at risk, which corresponds to people over 65 and immunocompromised people. In the Alpes-Maritimes, the situation is similar to the rest of France, no more, no less. With BA.5, are the symptoms different? We note that very often the first symptoms are sore throats, which was not the case with BA.1 and BA.2. Afterwards, as with the other variants, patients are very tired, have fever and headaches. On the other hand, it was noticed that there were more digestive symptoms such as vomiting. Is the situation comparable to that of Portugal where in recent weeks the BA.5 variant has caused significant mortality in the over 80s? We are watching the situation in Portugal carefully, since it is a country that is a few weeks ahead of us. But the situation is not really transposable. In France, the elderly population is more vaccinated than in Portugal. On the other hand, with the scientific council, we are sounding the alarm. It is absolutely necessary that people at risk make their second booster, which corresponds to the fourth dose. We hoped to be able to wait a bit but we must not take any risks. Especially in a period when we are experiencing increasingly frequent heat waves, and with a dilapidated hospital tool, we have all the ingredients for the situation to become dramatic. So it is absolutely necessary, I repeat, that people at risk take their second booster dose. Should barrier gestures again be made compulsory in public transport, businesses and supermarkets? Everyone must be careful, we must encourage citizens to remobilize. I advise all people at risk to wear a mask in a closed environment. In a closed space, you can very well come across a person who is incubating the disease, and you will contaminate yourself in this way. If you are not a fragile person, but you are in contact with a person at risk, you must indeed wear your mask, to protect the other. From there to restoring the barrier measures, it is a decision of the political power. But let’s not forget that we are all responsible. Had the French forgotten the existence of the Covid-19 pandemic? It’s completely normal, after two very difficult years. There is a phenomenon of resilience. We forget. But the Covid-19 is coming back, and will come back again. The solution involves vaccination of the population at risk, and individual responsibility. If it develops, the executive power will draw the consequences. Should we reinstall vaccinodromes throughout the territory, as at the height of the pandemic? I do not think so. The existing network is sufficient, namely city doctors and pharmacists. It is a very efficient system with a highly mobilized staff. And then the elderly, who are the most affected by this booster dose, are not the most adept at these vaccinodromes, they prefer to turn to their doctor.