The essential

The figures given on Friday by the Federal Office of Public Health indicate a 42.3% increase in infectionsweek to week on Fridays.

Post-covid heart risks kept hard to cure

Are we at risk of cardiovascular complications months after catching Covid? The AFP agency tries to make a point on this subject.

The estimate of the French Academy. She reports a conclusion released earlier this week by the Academy of Medicine: “Clinical cardiovascular monitoring is required in all subjects with a Covid-19 infection, even mild”. The Covid and cardiovascular diseases maintain “dangerous links”, estimates the body, based on several recent studies.

However, it brings a nuance: “Until now, (lasting) cardiovascular sequelae were reported only in hospitalized patients, in small series and with a short follow-up period”.

An American study. But a large study, carried out in the United States and published in February in the journal Nature, to change, according to her, the deal. Its results “portend to a significant increase in cardiovascular disease worldwide” as a result of the Covid pandemic.

Conducted among more than 150,000 US army veterans, all with Covid, this study measures the frequency of cardiovascular disorders in the year following infection. She compares it to groups of veterans who have not been infected.

Result: “Beyond 30 days following infection, individuals with Covid-19 have a higher risk of cardiovascular disorders”, discovered the study citing infarctions, heart inflammation or strokes. This work was motivated by multiple researchers, in particular because it was carried out with a very large number of patients and over a long period.

Shades. However, experts were more skeptical. It is “very difficult to draw relevant conclusions” from this study, said British statistician James Doidge, finding too many methodological biases. The main one being that American veterans, as numerous as they are, are a very homogeneous population, as they are largely made up of rather old men. It is therefore not representative, even if the authors of the study sought to correct these statistical biases.

In April 2021: Covid-19 poses increased risks for heart patients

■ Belgium to lift restrictions on Monday

Belgium decided on Friday to abandon the health pass and the wearing of a compulsory mask in closed public spaces from Monday, thanks to the drop in contamination in recent weeks and the high rate of vaccination – nearly 89% of adults are fully vaccinated.

As in Switzerland, wearing a mask remains compulsory on public transport. It is also recommended for interior spaces, in the event of exceptional crowds.

■ Decrease in new cases in France

Fewer contaminations, fewer people in critical care and fewer deaths: the wave of Covid-19 continues its slow decline in France, 10 days before the lifting of most of the health restrictions.

In the past 24 hours, 57,789 new cases have been recorded, according to the France public health agency, compared to 60,225 the day before.

With this figure, the seven-day average, which gives an idea of ​​the real evolution of the epidemic, declined to 52,173 cases, against 63,131 cases seven days ago.

■ The increase in contaminations in Switzerland proved at the end of the week

On Friday, the Federal Office of Public Health announced 25,131 cases in Switzerland, 15 deaths and 111 additional hospitalizations in 24 hours.

The previous Friday, the OFSP had announced 17,663 cases, 10 deaths and 89 additional hospitalizations.