It's hot, even very hot, work is taking a break, people are calming down … But the Covid-19 is not taking a vacation! It is therefore good to see the latest information about the virus together.
The swimsuit is ready, the beach book too, the sunscreen handy, but regarding the Covid-19, is it still in the lead? Because yes, the virus, just like its flagship holiday accessories, should not be forgotten, it is present and still circulating.
But you are a little lost between all the information that collides with each other every day, that is understandable. To leave knowing the most important data of the moment, an overview of the latest news.
1 / The number of cases among young people is climbing
According to the director general of the World Health Organization, young people "are not invincible". A strong quote that should not be taken lightly. There are more than 17 million cases of contamination, including more than 660,000 deaths recorded since the onset of the disease, according to a report established by the Agence France-Presse (AFP). "It seems that the rebounds of cases in some countries are in part due to young people letting their guard down during the summer in the Northern Hemisphere ", said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the director general of the World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday. "We have said it and we will say it again: young people can be infected, young people can die, and young people can transmit the virus," he added at the press conference.
These statements are based on "Cases rebound in some countries due to young people letting their guard down during the summer in the northern hemisphere", emphasizes Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. He strongly insists on "Take the same precautions as others to protect yourself from the virus and to protect others".
For him, "young people should be at the forefront of change" as with the adoption of physical distancing, handwashing and mask wearing when distancing is not possible.
According to the Directorate General of Health (DGS) in a press release on Wednesday, July 29, "the proportion of positive tests increases to 1.4% and there is a markedly greater increase in young adults" and "if they are at low risk of developing a severe form of the disease, young people can help spread the disease. virus if they do not respect the barrier measures and infect their loved ones, parents, grandparents and vulnerable people ".
2 / The prefects can make it compulsory to wear a mask outside
This Friday, July 31, the Minister of Health, Olivier Véran made an announcement that may change the use of the mask. Indeed, the politician indicated, in a tweet, that the prefects will now be able to impose the wearing of masks in outdoor public places.
"The prefects will now be able by decree to extend the obligation to wear a mask to open public places. This decision can be taken locally, depending on the evolution of the epidemic in each territory."
"If you are in a street where there are several people and you are not sure that you can keep the distance, wearing a mask, I recommend it", then declared, Wednesday, the Minister of Health, during a visit to a logistics site for sending free masks in Buc, in Yvelines, relayed by the France-Presse agency (AFP).
The prefecture of the North has already announced the obligation to wear a mask in public space in different areas of the metropolis of Lille. Educational at first, the measure may give rise to sanctions from Monday, according to BFM TV. Many seaside resorts require the mask, such as Saint-Malo, Biscarosse-Plage or even Grau-du-Roi.
For other regions, it is therefore preferable to find out about the sites of the cities visited.
3 / Research on vaccines against Covid-19: progressing
It is a huge global competition that is being played out. And there would be around 200 projects going on. Some are advanced and some are not. In the United States, the government has pledged to fund up to nearly $ 1 billion to support and develop a potential vaccine developed by the American biotechnology company Moderna. The experimental vaccine is about to enter the last phase of its clinical trial, according to AFP.
Ongoing, two projects, one British and one Chinese, have produced some significant immune response, referring to the results of two separate clinical trials, which appeared on Monday, July 20 in the British medical journal The Lancet.
Chinese research has been tested in the country since Wednesday, July 22.
On the English side: "We have vaccinated 10,000 volunteers in England, we are vaccinating 5,000 volunteers in Brazil, 2,000 in South Africa. We think we could be able to deliver a vaccine at the end of the year at the latest, maybe a little earlier if all goes well ", Pascal Soriot, CEO of the pharmaceutical group AstraZeneca, told RTL.
Let's not rejoice too quickly since a British study released in mid-July suggests that antibody-based immunity could disappear in just a few months, a real concern in the development of an effective vaccine over time.
4 / The spread of the virus
In France, 5,375 people are hospitalized because of the coronavirus, including 381 severe cases in intensive care, indicates the DGS in its press release. In the latter, it is indicated that the circulation of the virus is strong with an increasing number of daily cases and more than 1000, as well as an increase in clusters since the beginning of July.
Santé Publique France has published an update on the situation and 10 departments are in a vulnerable situation: Guyana, Mayotte and Mayenne are in high vulnerability. The Gironde, the Vosges, the North, Haute-Savoie and Haute-Garonne and now Val d'Oise, Ille ‑ et ‑ Vilaine are in moderate vulnerability. There are also 150 active contaminations in the territory.
5 / Health rules during the holidays
No relaxation is allowed during the summer. The General Directorate of Health (DGS) declares that "respect for barrier gestures, in particular physical distancing and wearing a mask when this is not possible, must continue (…) The mask should never be moistened, even if this can provide a feeling of cooling ( …) If the mask is wet (perspiration, etc.) it must be changed because its effectiveness is no longer guaranteed. "
The DGS also recalls that very simple actions must be implemented in order to avoid dehydration, it is thus necessary to drink water regularly without waiting to be thirsty, to avoid alcohol, to eat enough and not to go out every hour. the hottest of the day. And above all, do not forget the barrier gestures that must be scrupulously followed in order to avoid the spread of the Covid.
And we must not forget the elderly who "are very vulnerable to hot weather and special attention should be paid to them in the context of active circulation of the COVID-19 virus." All in compliance with health rules.