Coronavirus. As the spread intensifies in Italy, Toulouse and Occitania organize

As the Coronavirus epidemic infects Europe – more than 150 cases have been identified in Italy– this Monday, February 24, 2020, the director general ofWorld Health Organization called on the world to prepare for a new pandemic, saying that the sudden increase in cases among our transalpine neighbors was “very worrying”.

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No case in the region

At a press conference held on Monday, February 24, the Regional Health Agency said that no case of coronavirus had been found in Occitan. However, precautionary measures are in place: at least one hospital is mobilized in each department. This is the case at Tarbes, Auch, Foix Pamiers, Carcassonne, Perpignan, Albi, Montauban or Cahors. The ARS specifies all the same that this device is not yet “fully operational”

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CHU’s Toulouse, Montpellier and Nîmes are also mobilized: it is in these establishments that virus tests can be carried out. During a press point held at the very end of January, Marc Penaud, director of the Toulouse University Hospital explained:

We are ready to face. Our emergency services are trained. The infectious and tropical diseases department can accommodate ten patients in isolation room and the resuscitation service can also put patients in solitary confinement.

Read also: Toulouse. How the CHU is preparing to deal with coronavirus cases

Precautions in Toulouse Schools

As for schools, precautions are taken with children returning from mainland China, Hong Kong, Macao, Singapore, South Korea and the Lombardy and Venetian regions of Italy. Schools in Haute-Garonne have received an email from rectorate of Toulouse which establishes the new health recommendations:

Upon return, a child should not attend the crèche or school. A college / high school student should not attend school. It will therefore be advisable to inform the legal representatives of pupils, middle school and high school students that the latter must not be schooled for a period of 14 days following their return to the national territory.

Fourteen day vigilance

Precautions that apply to all people returning from these different countries. “If you come back from these areas, it is necessary to monitor your temperature, wash your hands, avoid places with fragile people,” explains Pierre Ricordeau, director general of ARS Occitanie. This vigilance lasts 14 days. ”

Pierre Ricordeau specifies:

When you have symptoms, you call 15. For simple questions, consult the government website or the toll-free number 080 013 000 so as not to clutter the Samu line.

Contain and stop the spread

According to the director ofARS Occitanie, the French strategy consists in “containing and halting the spread by identifying the virus as soon as possible”. Doctor Christophe Garro is responsible for the epidemic and infectious risks unit at the regional health agency. He explains :

There is no temperature control provided at airport arrivals. It is not very effective: it is the strategy adopted by Italy, which did not prevent the spread of the virus.

With Lucie Fraisse

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