infections are still accelerating in France

11,633 new Covid-19 infections were recorded in France over the week of August 3 to 9, 2020. This is 38% more than the previous week (8,384 cases identified at the time).

Covid-19: the proportion of positive tests on the rise

The progression of the Covid-19 epidemic is accelerating in France, indicates the weekly report published by the French Public Health agency. The bar of 10,000 new cases identified over a week was easily crossed with 11,633 new cases over the past week. As a reminder, in March 2020, all it took was 4,214 new cases over a week (from March 9 to 15) for general confinement to be announced on March 16, 2020.

If the number of tests carried out over a week has remained relatively stable, the “positivity rate” (ie the number of positive results out of 100,000 tests carried out) is increasing. It is now 2.2%, against 1.6% a week earlier and 1.4% a week earlier. Note that the positivity rate is particularly high on tests carried out in airports (3.5%).

Covid-19: still more clusters in France

France now has 746 “clusters” of the disease, against 609 a week earlier. Most of these clusters correspond to public and private events temporarily bringing together people who do not belong to the same household (23%), companies that do not welcome the public (24%) and health establishments. (16%).

While the number of infections has increased dramatically, not all patients required hospitalization. During the week of August 3 to 9, 6.7% of newly identified cases were hospitalized, compared to 9.2% a week earlier. As a result, the number of hospitalizations increased only very slightly: 778 cases against 782 a week earlier, an increase of 0.5%. On the other hand, admissions to intensive care are increasing at a much greater rate: + 16% over one week (122 cases against 105 a week earlier).

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