Weekly French Covid thread. No 3rd lockdown after all. Not yet anyway. President Macron took a big gamble last Friday and decided that French opinion wasn’t ready for Confinement 3 and epidemic stats didn’t justify one.
So far, most stats are still on Macron’s side.
BUT… 1/8
So far, most stats are still on Macron’s side.
BUT… 1/8
The head of the Paris hospital medical committee, Prof Rémi Salomon, warned yesterday that the faster-moving UK variant of Covid-19 was now 15-20% of all cases in the Paris area - up from 6% a month ago. He said the pandemic seemed certain to accelerate in the days ahead. 2/8
As things stand, the main virus numbers that I follow in this thread are fairly stable. The average number of cases each day has scarcely increased in 7 days - from 20,248 to 20,614. Daily deaths are up from 400.5 to 448.4. Intensive care occupation is up from 3,111 to 3,277
3/8
3/8
The Prime Minister, Jean Castex, and health minister, Olivier Véran, will give a press conference at 6pm French time. Judging by the figures, little dramatic should be expected. 4/8
On the French vax programme, I have already tweeted extensively. I remain puzzled by the lack of urgency/ ambition. There were 1.5m injections up to end Jan – but 1.1m doses unused. Fr. will have at least 4m doses available in Feb – but expects to use only 2.4m. More tomorrow 5/8
Those French Covid stats in detail…
The 7 day daily average of cases was 20,614, compared to 20,248 last week and 17,764 and 15,859 in previous weeks. Deaths are averaging 448.4 a day, compared to previous figures of 400.5, 389 and 353.
Rising. Not exploding. 6/8
The 7 day daily average of cases was 20,614, compared to 20,248 last week and 17,764 and 15,859 in previous weeks. Deaths are averaging 448.4 a day, compared to previous figures of 400.5, 389 and 353.
Rising. Not exploding. 6/8
Total French Covid deaths since March 1 are 77,595.
Pressure on hospitals/ intensive care is still rising but less rapidly than last week. There were 3,277 C19 patients in ICU last night, compared to 3,111 seven days ago. The hospital C19 population is 789 higher at 27,955.
7/8
Pressure on hospitals/ intensive care is still rising but less rapidly than last week. There were 3,277 C19 patients in ICU last night, compared to 3,111 seven days ago. The hospital C19 population is 789 higher at 27,955.
7/8
Conclusion: Macron took a huge gamble last Friday - either courageous or foolish.
At the time only 40% of French people were in favour of a third lockdown. Now over 70% say they are. Perverse.
We are still in for a long, hard haul. Hang in there.
8/8
At the time only 40% of French people were in favour of a third lockdown. Now over 70% say they are. Perverse.
We are still in for a long, hard haul. Hang in there.
8/8
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