We had almost forgotten. Although in France there has been a slight increase in Covid-19 infections, the question of the return of the use of the mandatory mask is raised. “It will be considered whether we return to an intensive epidemic phase, but at the moment we are not there,” explains Brigitte Autran this Wednesday to Release. “On the other hand, it is recommended that infected people isolate themselves and wear a mask if they need to go to a public place.”
The “vaccination campaign”, a “priority”
Faced with this slight epidemic resurgence, the scientist explains that “the priority is to understand the new variant and prepare the vaccination campaign.” The WHO is closely monitoring a new variant, BA.2.86, a member of the Omicron family, due to “an increased number of mutations.” “It is likely to evolve more significantly and spread more easily,” he recalled, adding that “it has been detected in Denmark, Israel and the United States, but is not yet present in France.”
As for the EG.5.1 variant, nicknamed Eris by some scientists and resulting from the XBB.1.5 branch, “we cannot rule out that it will become the majority,” but “we have no signs of particular severity,” he said. “And early scientific data suggests that it is susceptible to new vaccines that will be available in early fall.”
For the vaccination campaign, three vaccines “offered to populations at risk” will be available: “two messenger RNA vaccines developed during the spring by the Pfizer and Moderna laboratories, as well as a recombinant particle vaccine, developed by Novavax according to the recommendations from the WHO.
Regarding the Covid surveillance system, lightened and currently “close to that of the flu”, “it is expected that during the autumn (…) the system will be readjusted to optimally face an amplification of risks,” he clarified. .
Source: BFM TV
