the Omicron variant now the majority in wastewater abstraction
As elsewhere in France, the variants of Covid-19 continue to spread and generate a strong wave of contamination.
“Exceptional”. This is how the Marseille firefighters launched the circulation of the Covid-19 this Wednesday. An observation taken from the study of wastewater, an indicator that makes it possible to follow the progression of the epidemic.
This analysis reveals that “the two epidemic episodes are slightly delayed, with a peak of the Delta variant reached and part of Omicron now at 60%”. The marine firefighters also detected the presence of the influenza virus in their samples.
Carrying out analyzes of wastewater makes it possible to anticipate the increase in the incidence rate in Marseille. Traces of Covid-19 can be detected there in the stools of infected people even before the development of symptoms, which makes it possible to set up upstream surveillance measures.
Overloaded intensive care units
The strong contagiousness of the variants has already triggered a boom in the incidence rate in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region. It reached 1642 positive cases per 100,000 inhabitants on Tuesday.
The current wave of contamination is not, however, limited to the south of France. 271,686 positive cases were recorded Tuesday, in the space of 24 hours, nationwide. A figure that surpasses the record of December 31, with 232,000 cases.
However, the repercussions of this wave are particularly strong in the hospitals of Bouches-du-Rhône. The voltage in the intensive care unit was estimated at 101% on Sunday by Covid Tracker, with nearly 300 people taken care of.
“It is exclusively or almost exclusively of the Delta variant, confirmed Monday Olivier Véran, Minister of Health, on the antenna of France Inter. You will once again find there, as for the whole of France, two patient profiles: the unvaccinated and immunocompromised, fragile patients who, although vaccinated, can have serious forms. “
In this context, more than 500 Marseille caregivers wrote a forum on Sunday urging the local population to be vaccinated. This in order to curb contamination and the risk of developing serious forms of Covid-19.