Thread by @ClaireBerlinski

The virus is spreading again in France. Effective R now between 1.26 and 1.29. 424 clusters in metropolitan France. The death rate is not (yet) rising. santepubliquefrance.fr/maladies-et-tr…

Of note: "Le port systématique du masque en public avait progressé jusqu’en vague 8 (deux semaines après la fin du confinement) puis avait diminué entre les vagues 9 et 10 et s’était stabilisé en vagues 11 et 12 en ne concernant qu’une personne sur deux."

Correlation≠causation, but this--again--shows a correlation between laxity about wearing masks and a higher infection rate. It also strongly suggests France needs to knock off all the handshaking and kissing.

"l’augmentation des signalements dans les établissements médico-sociaux incluant les collectivités de
personnes âgées est un signal préoccupant qui doit être suivi avec la plus grande attention."

(The rising reports in medical and social facilities, including elderly communities, are a worrying sign that must be monitored with utmost attention.)

"Une baisse importante a été observée en particulier pour les mesures « saluer sans se serrer la main » et « garder une distance d’au moins un mètre » qui ont diminué de près de 20 points de pourcentage pour ce qui concerne leur adoption systématique depuis le déconfinement."

"We've observed a significant decrease, since the end of the lockdown, in the number of people who observe the "greet without shaking hands" and "maintain a distance of at least one meter" measures. (Down 20 percent.)

"Continued viral circulation and the growing confirmation of epidemiological indicators over the past 3 weeks strongly suggest maintaining the greatest vigilance."

"Summer holidays are apt to encourage risky behavior, particularly in the context of family reunions or events among friends, as well as other brief gatherings ... "

" ... along with the diminishment in the systematic adoption of preventive measures by the population (maintaining physical distance, handwashing, wearing a mask, not kissing or greeting each other by shaking hands) ... "

" ... these developments indicate the resumption of the epidemic and reduced control over it. Add the mobility and dispersal of populations over the summer period, which makes contact tracing more complex and difficult to implement. ... "

"The progression of virus transmission is confirmed, but remains moderate--and therefore controllable--if every one of us strictly adheres to hygienic measures and we intensify the
'Test-trace-isolate' strategy."

I think France does have the discipline to do this. The US has given the world a gift, in a way, by showing what can happen if you dismiss these warnings as so much hectoring nonsense.

But what a demonic--and demoralizing--virus this is.