Covid cases rise in France as new wave detected in wastewater and hospitals
Santé publique France identified a new epidemic wave after testing 54 wastewater sites across the country, noting higher viral concentrations than two weeks earlier. Emergency department visits for suspected Covid-19 have risen in week 36, driven by patients under 15 and those aged 15-64. SOS Médecins observes a similar uptick among its callers. Experts stress continued vigilance despite strong vaccine-derived immunity.
A new Covid-19 wave is emerging in France, according to Santé publique France, which monitored 54 wastewater treatment stations and found viral levels climbing compared with measurements from two weeks prior. The agency's latest surveillance bulletin shows that emergency department admissions for suspected Covid-19 continued to increase during week 36, with the rise concentrated among children under 15 and adults between 15 and 64 years old.
SOS Médecins reports comparable trends in its patient base. Professor Antoine Flahault cautioned that the future scale and impact of this episode remain uncertain, though current concentrations are far below last year's peak. He recommended maintaining protective measures such as indoor FFP2 masks, proper ventilation, and isolation when symptomatic, emphasizing that these steps can markedly lower household transmission risk.
