At the Covid screening center in Caen, activity is accelerating after the end of the Beauregard festival
While the seventh wave has been falling on France for a few weeks, there is only one screening center left in Caen. Since Monday, his activity has increased. The nurses, who take the samples, point to a “Beauregard” effect
This Tuesday morning in Caen, at the screening center managed by SOS Infirmiers, inside the house of associations, rue Germaine Tillon, it is not the crowds of last winter. But they are more numerous than usual to push the door. Unlike previous waves, it is the only dedicated center still in operation in Caen. Today, the majority of tests are carried out in pharmacies, in analysis laboratories or in independent nurses’ offices. The center operates seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and appears to be the simplest solution in case of doubt or worrying signs.
This Tuesday morning, precisely, Marie has a runny nose and feels very tired. “Fatigue, I don’t know if it’s linked to covid or to the five days I spent at the Beauregard festival“Explains the young woman in a broken voice. Sore throat and cold, Tiffaine, too, is not in her best shape.I am sick since yesterday (Monday). I have been to Beauregard every day except Sunday. No one was in contact or sick around me.“For Céline, on the other hand, no symptoms.”I am case contact. I was in Beauregard for five days. I learned Sunday evening, returning from the festival, that a friend was positive. I come to get tested before going back to work.“
In the space of an hour, Aleyna has already performed more than a dozen antigen tests, the fastest, which is as many as all day the day before. “There are many people who were in Beauregard this weekend who came this morning to be tested“, notes the young woman, in charge of the samples, “In one hour, we did around thirty PCRs and around fifteen antigens, half of which were positive..” And to add in a joking tone: “It’s all well and good to have fun but you also have to be careful with barrier gestures“.
According to the director of the screening center, the boost came on Monday. “We were on an average of 80 tests per day at the end of June. Last week, we performed 600 tests. Currently, we are approaching 150 tests per day.“The only element that has not changed: the positivity rate, which is around 30%. “Several cases arise. There are people who are contact cases or double or triple contact cases, they know how to tell us. There are those who have fears given the crowds at the festival and who therefore prefer to come and be tested. And others are symptomatic with a cough, runny nose.“But the festival-goers are not the only ones to push the doors of the screening center, specifies Marion Leblanc. Future vacationers and people about to be hospitalized complete the ranks.
New two other festivals could be assimilated to clusters. This is particularly the case of Hellfest which this year welcomed 420,000 spectators over two weekends (147,000 people went to Beauregard). Many positive cases have been reported, starting with one of the headliners, the American group Metallica, who was subsequently forced to cancel one of the dates of its European tour. However, the health authorities remain cautious on the subject and are careful not to condemn them. “There may be a slight impact, but there is no immediately identified cause and effect link“, indicated the Regional Health Agency of Pays de Loire to our colleagues from Ouest-France based on the figures of its only geographical area. In the absence of traceability, the impact of this type of event which drains beyond its region is difficult to assess.
The fact remains that in view of the epidemic dynamics observed for several weeks in Normandy (an incidence rate of 1,105 cases per 100,000 inhabitants on July 8, according to Public Health France) and throughout the country, health professionals have judged that we can no longer do without certain precautions. “Going to an unmasked festival seems a bit difficult to consider today given the number of positive tests we have and the number of people who can find themselves in a very limited area.“says Marion Leblanc. With the ball on July 14 and the various fireworks organized in the coming days, the number of contact cases is likely to increase further. But for now, wearing a mask is simply recommended.