'Worrying signs' of Covid-19 resurgence in Paris, says French health minister
France's health minister has warned that there are small but worrying signs of a resurgence of coronavirus cases in the Paris region.
Paris and its surrounding suburbs was among the worst affected parts of France during the epidemic, so health experts have been anxiously watching the numbers in the area.
Health minister Olivier Véran, in an interview with France Inter on Thursday morning, said there were some signs that cases are climbing again.
READ ALSO Why have Paris' northern suburbs had such a high coronavirus death rate?
"There are indicators such as the resumption of calls to SOS Médecins, to the SAMU [ambulance service] and the number of hospital admissions," he said.
While stressing that the signs of the virus resurgence were at present weak, he called on all French people to "remain particularly vigilant and active against the virus".
In the greater Paris Île-de-France region demand for tests is high, with 1.5 million prescriptions filed for Covid tests, so the minister announced that he is allowing technicians to begin taking swabs from patients in order to speed the process.
He added: "There are a large number of Île-de-France residents who want to go on holiday and who want to be tested before they leave, which means that there is a massive influx of people who have been wanting to access laboratories for the past few days."
He added that people will also have the opportunity to be tested while away from home if they develop symptoms.
The government already recommends that people wear masks in enclosed public spaces and that is set to become mandatory in the coming days.
READ ALSO When and where will masks be compulsory in France?
In the latest official data, released on Wednesday, France had seen 133 new coronavirus patients hospitalised in 24 hours, and 17 new admissions to intensive care.
This was down from a high of 4,281 people hospitalised in one day in April.
Comments
See Also
Paris and its surrounding suburbs was among the worst affected parts of France during the epidemic, so health experts have been anxiously watching the numbers in the area.
Health minister Olivier Véran, in an interview with France Inter on Thursday morning, said there were some signs that cases are climbing again.
READ ALSO Why have Paris' northern suburbs had such a high coronavirus death rate?
"There are indicators such as the resumption of calls to SOS Médecins, to the SAMU [ambulance service] and the number of hospital admissions," he said.
While stressing that the signs of the virus resurgence were at present weak, he called on all French people to "remain particularly vigilant and active against the virus".
In the greater Paris Île-de-France region demand for tests is high, with 1.5 million prescriptions filed for Covid tests, so the minister announced that he is allowing technicians to begin taking swabs from patients in order to speed the process.
He added: "There are a large number of Île-de-France residents who want to go on holiday and who want to be tested before they leave, which means that there is a massive influx of people who have been wanting to access laboratories for the past few days."
He added that people will also have the opportunity to be tested while away from home if they develop symptoms.
The government already recommends that people wear masks in enclosed public spaces and that is set to become mandatory in the coming days.
READ ALSO When and where will masks be compulsory in France?
In the latest official data, released on Wednesday, France had seen 133 new coronavirus patients hospitalised in 24 hours, and 17 new admissions to intensive care.
This was down from a high of 4,281 people hospitalised in one day in April.
Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.
Please log in here to leave a comment.