It has been almost a week since the Minister of Health, Olivier Véran, announced a new zonal division in France. This new map has classified the metropolis of Aix-Marseille, as well as Guadeloupe, on maximum alert, the last level before the state of health emergency. Around ten large metropolises (Paris, its inner suburbs, Lyon, Nice, Bordeaux, Lille, Toulouse, Saint-Étienne, Rennes, Rouen, Grenoble and Montpellier) have for their part been placed in enhanced alert zones, with a range of of measures: event level lowered to 1000 people, ban on gatherings of more than 10 people, closure of bars and restaurants after 10 p.m., closure of gymnasiums and sports halls.
In Paris, despite these measures, the situation continues to worsen and could soon place the capital in the category of maximum alert zone. To remain on heightened alert, the City of Light must control its incidence rate – the number of positive cases per 100,000 inhabitants over seven days – which must remain below 250. Currently, this rate is 245.7, according to the latest data from Public Health France, consulted by Le Figaro. For those over 65, this figure should remain below 100. However, it is 141.3 for 60-69 year olds, 75.4 for 70-79 year olds and 70.2 for 80-89 year olds. years and 78.8 for over 90 years.
30% of intensive care beds occupied
Finally, to avoid crossing the maximum alert threshold, less than 30% of resuscitation beds must be occupied by patients affected by Covid-19. According to figures provided by the Research, Studies, Evaluation and Statistics Department (DREES), Ile-de-France has 1150 beds. As of September 29, 377 patients were hospitalized in the region, representing 30.5% of occupancy. In Paris, there is no recent data on the number of beds available in intensive care. Before the pandemic, in 2019, the Drees estimated that the capital had 471 available. Which means that the capital, alone, would only be 20% occupied.
However, Paris – but also Ile-de-France as a whole, for which the indicators are also worrying – is close to exceeding all the thresholds, which will be reviewed within a week. If the capital comes to join the metropolis of Aix-Marseille and Guadeloupe as a maximum alert zone, new restrictive measures should be applied. Like the 15-day closure of bars and restaurants, which provoked unprecedented anger among professionals in the sector last week.
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