The number of hospitalizations of patients with Covid-19 continues to rise with 6,036 hospitalizations over the past week (+15.9%) and 556 critical care admissions (+12.1%), according to Public Health France. At the same time, epidemics of influenza and bronchiolitis are underway, not to mention the seasonal circulation of winter viruses.
Therefore, the health authorities strongly encourage people to respect barrier measures and to wear the mask in closed spaces, such as public transport, to limit contamination. But while temperatures are expected to dip below 0°C this weekend, the France-England World Cup quarter-final match should draw fans to indoor and potentially stuffy venues, and therefore lead to more difficult and favorable situations for transmission.
Comcor’s November 2021 study thus identified indoor bars and private parties “as sites of Delta variant transmission among those under 40 years of age.” It was noted that these particular broadcasts were made between June 9 and July 9.
“This period corresponds to that of the soccer Eurocup, which suggests that fan gatherings during matches could have influenced the spread of the virus,” the Pasteur Institute explained at the time.
Less ventilated places where we consume without a mask
The risk of contamination “increases with the time spent in the same place” especially when it is poorly ventilated, epidemiologist Mircea Sofonea explains to BFMTV.com.
However, with the winter and the low temperatures that are expected for Saturday night, it is very likely that the game will not be seen on the terrace, and not all bars have effective ventilation systems, which allow the room to be ventilated and renew the environment. air. The same observation can be made for private parties. As a reminder, ventilation is one of the key measures to limit the spread of Covid-19,
Mircea Sofonea recalls that SARS-CoV-2 is transmitted by droplets expelled by infected people. And in places like bars, where the people present drink and eat, the risk of aerosol escape is greater. Furthermore, in a festive context such as a football match, it is very likely that spectators will shout or at least speak loudly, further increasing the chances of aerosol diffusion.
“The virus can be spread when small liquid particles are expelled through the mouth or nose when an infected person coughs, sneezes, speaks, sings, or takes a deep breath,” warns the World Health Organization. “These particles come in different sizes, from large ‘respiratory droplets’ to smaller ‘aerosols’,” he says.
Bars are also part of the places of passage, where different people meet and mingle, creating a mixture of the population that can naturally favor the epidemic.
How to limit the risk of contamination in bars?
Mircea Sofonea therefore advises those who absolutely want to watch these quarterfinals from a bar to “limit the duration of their presence inside, if possible to go out from time to time” to limit their exposure. Inside, she recommends standing near the front door, to get fresh air when it’s open, or near a window that can be opened.
“We can also look for a less crowded bar, or one that has good ventilation,” adds the epidemiologist, who also advises starting to go to the game “in small groups.”
In risk situations like these, it is also a good idea to get tested before and after the appointment, and “of course wear an FFP2 mask,” recalls Mircea Sofonea. Fragile people are also called to get vaccinated against Covid-19, but also against the flu.
In a document for fans traveling to Qatar to attend the World Cup, FIFA (International Football Federation) recommends “washing your hands regularly with soap and water or hydroalcoholic gel” to get tested in case of symptoms of Covid-19 or even to “wear a mask that covers your mouth and nose”.
“The best prevention is non-exposure”
“The best prevention is non-exposure”, says Mircea Sofonea, who encourages “postponing non-essential exposure. We are all a link in the transmission chain, we all have a role to play.”
This meeting could create conglomerates in places, three weeks before the end of the year holidays, while hospital services fear the saturation of their services. “This weekend and next week they will determine the level of contamination during the holidays,” said the epidemiologist.
Asked about the epidemic risks for the Christmas holidays, Philippe Amouyel, an epidemiologist and professor of public health at Lille University Hospital, had already called for “anticipating” the coming wave. “In a month, we can crush a rising wave”, but for that we must “return to the habits of social distancing”.
Source: BFM TV
