In a press release published on Wednesday, the National Academy of Medicine recommends that all French people return to wearing the surgical mask in closed spaces open to the public, and in particular on public transport. “The mask is necessary again,” says the document.
A decision that is explained by several elements, and in particular by the fear of seeing several epidemics, such as Covid-19 and the flu, combined during the winter season. A situation that would greatly destabilize French hospitals, already weakened by the bronchiolitis epidemic that affects children under 2 years of age.
“While the eighth wave of Covid-19 appears to be stabilizing at a high level, the prospect of an early seasonal flu epidemic is becoming clearer in mainland France given the increasing incidence of flu-like illnesses and sporadic confirmed cases.” writes the Academy. of Medicine.
According to the latest figures from CovidTracker, an average of 29,230 positive cases of Covid-19 are currently sampled in France every day. Intensive care hospitalizations also remain at a high level, with 71 daily admissions.
Fear of a flu resurgence
The Academy of Medicine is concerned to see an increase in Covid-19/flu coinfections this winter. Although the flu had almost disappeared during the 2020-2021 season due to successive confinements and strict respect for barrier gestures, it returned in 2021-2022.
“Many cases of ‘flu + Covid-19’ coinfection have been reported worldwide (…). Thus, a prospective study carried out in the United Kingdom in 6,965 patients with Covid-19 detected a viral coinfection in 583 (8.4 %) of them, these co-infections being significantly associated with a higher risk of death”, warns the academy of medicine.
“We appeal to popular common sense”
There are many reasons that push the institute to issue recommendations, “although the health situation does not force us to return to mandatory measures at this time.”
Among the latter, the use of the FFP2 mask in closed public spaces is encouraged for the elderly or those with comorbidities. The surgical mask is recommended for everyone, in all closed public spaces, including public transport.
On the BFMTV set this Thursday, Yves Buisson, epidemiologist and president of the Covid-19 cell of the National Academy of Medicine, recalled the importance of these recommendations in the current circumstances.
“We appeal to popular common sense, so that people be very careful, especially when they are older, vulnerable… That they (the French, editor’s note) take the precaution of wearing a mask in crowded areas where they risk getting infected “. ,” he said.
Source: BFM TV
