Vaccination coverage is improving, but has fallen sharply compared to the last two weeks : the number of first injections has thus been declining continuously for 6 consecutive weeks. To protect yourself and others, and limit the spread of the virus, vaccination remains the most effective means.
Health situation
The prefecture and the Regional Health Agency regret to announce on September 7, 2021 the deaths, which occurred during the last 7 days, of 12 patients from Reunion, all with comorbidities:
– 2 people aged between 65 and 74,
– 10 people over 75 years old.
Among these deaths:
– 11 people were not vaccinated,
– 1 person had a complete vaccination schedule but had strong co-morbidities.
From August 28 to September 3, 1,305 cases were identified in 7 days. The positivity rate is down to 2.9% (-31%) and has not been so low since February 2021. The rate weekly incidence is 153/100 000 inhabitants, also on the decline. The number of screenings is stable with 44,471 tests performed over the week (+ 0.4%).
Among these 1,305 cases:
- 1,225 cases are classified as indigenous,
- 7 cases are classified as imported, ie 0.5% of cases.
take in account the 49 439 healings and 354 deaths since the start of the health crisis, 1 858 case are still active to this day.
51 651 cases have been investigated to date by ARS, Public Health France and Health Insurance, 94% of which are indigenous cases.
Search for Covid-19 mutations
From August 28 to September 3, 2,071 positive tests were screened to identify a mutation:
1,561 cases presented one of the specific mutations under surveillance, i.e. a proportion of 75% against 76% the previous week.
The virus circulates at a high rate and the proportion of variant forms remains very high in Reunion. The Delta (Indian) variant represents 74% of mutations, a slight increase compared to the previous week (73%) ahead of the Beta (South African) variant at 26% (against 27% the previous week).
Focus on clusters
As of September 7, 2021, 19 clusters are active and 453 have been closed.
Among the active clusters, we note:
- 3 moderately critical clusters: Saint-André (1), Saint-Paul (1) and Le Tampon (1)
- 7 high-criticality clusters: Le Port (2), Saint-Paul (2), Saint-Denis (1), Saint-Louis (1) and Saint-Pierre (1)
Regarding the other indicators
The incidence rate per age class is falling :
- among 0-14 year olds: -20.8%
- among 15-24 year olds: – 16%
- among 25-34 year olds: – 33.7%
- among 45-64 year olds: – 33.2%
- among those over 65: – 14.1%
- among those over 75: – 14.8%
However, it is increasing among 35-44 year olds: + 3.4%.
As of August 7, 2021, 29 intensive care beds were occupied by patients positive for Covid-19 on the 105 resuscitation beds installed in Reunion.
Patients hospitalized in intensive care for Covid-19, from August 9 to September 5 (source Santé Publique France):
– 58% were men and 42% women;
– 18% were 15 to 44 years old, 32% 45 to 64 years old, 37% 65 to 74 years old and 13% 75 years old and over; half of the people were under 64;
– 94% of patients admitted to intensive care were not vaccinated or had an incomplete vaccination schedule (only one dose);
– 92% of patients presented with one or more comorbidities.
Vaccination is progressing in all age groups, but insufficiently in recent weeks
Nearly 36,200 vaccine injections were performed from August 30 to September 5.
Nowadays :
– 65.4% of the eligible population (over 12 years old) is engaged in a vaccination course (or 53.6% of the total population),
– 57.4% of the eligible population have a complete vaccination schedule (or 47.1% of the total population)
However, the weekly rhythm of the first injections decreases again this week compared to the previous weeks.
The favorable evolution of the main indicators of Covid-19 must of course be confirmed in the coming days to consider the further de-escalation of the restriction measures. We must be aware that the circulation of the virus (Delta and Beta variants) remains and that the vaccination rate remains too low to this day to benefit from collective immunity making it possible to lift the measures to curb the epidemic. The measures put in place (barrier gestures, confinement, curfew, etc.) must be strictly observed by everyone.
The prefecture and the ARS remind all Reunionese of the need to:
· to be screened at the slightest symptom;
· respect the prescribed strict isolation to prevent the spread of the virus and its variants:
o at least 10 days when you are contaminated with Covid-19,
o at least 7 days if you are in contact.
· no longer delay vaccination or wait 2 months if you have been contaminated:
o 2 doses for the Pfizer vaccine (or 3 for some people on the advice of their doctor)
o and a single dose for the Janssen vaccine.
– respect the injection time of the 2th Pfizer vaccine dose 3 weeks from the 1time injection.
The Pfizer and Janssen vaccines available in Reunion are effective against the Delta variant and make it possible to reduce the risk of severe forms.
During the confinement period, people wishing to be vaccinated can go to the various vaccination sites, by providing proof of exceptional travel outside the confinement perimeter.
To download the certificate, go to the prefecture’s website:
Proof of exceptional travel outside the confinement perimeter – State services in Reunion Island (reunion.gouv.fr)
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