The British, South African and Brazilian variants of the coronavirus are actively circulating in France. But some regions are more affected than others by these new strains of Covid-19. This is the case for Île-de-France, Provence-Alpes-Côtes d´Azur and Hauts-de-France, according to the latest report from Santé Publique France. Faced with the increase in contamination in these territories, the government has decided to establish local containment in certain areas of these regions to curb the circulation of variants.
The municipalities on the coast of the Alpes-Maritimes and the agglomeration of Dunkirk are affected by this measure during the next two weekends. Clearly, the inhabitants will not be able to move throughout the weekend. They will have to use a travel certificate to do their shopping or go to medical appointments. This partial containment could be extended to other regions, which are also severely impacted by the circulation of variants. But will this measure really stop the outbreak of the virus?
Confinement on weekends: is this the solution to fight against Covid-19?
Opinions differ over the effectiveness of weekend containment. Vincent Rébeillé-Borgella, secretary general of the Regional Union of Health Professionals (URPS) which represents the liberal doctors of Auvergne Rhône-Alpes, had pleaded for a reconfinement the weekend last October, because he judged that the week -end was conducive to reunion and therefore to the spread of the virus.
"There are two times when people can get infected: between leaving work and 9 p.m. (when the area is under curfew) when we go shopping and see other people, and on weekends (. ..) We realize that people on weekends meet each other a lot more, relax and respect barrier gestures less ", he told The Dispatch.
According to the lecturer in epidemiology and evolution of infectious diseases at the University of Montpellier, Mircea Sofonea, this measure will probably not be sufficient to slow the circulation of variants. "It should not be expected that active containment two days a week for only two weeks will lead to a sufficient decline. On the other hand, it can help limit the outbreak," he explained to Figaro this February 24.
While he is in favor of this case-by-case approach, he mentions the possible need for total containment in a few weeks. "We can only rejoice that the executive is considering a territorialized approach, but in two weeks, the variants will be even more present. We must expect to see the circulation of the virus increase. (…) If in fine, it s 'turns out that this partial confinement is not enough and that it is necessary to completely confine, we will therefore have lost two weeks ", he pointed out.
Containment at weekends: has this measure been effective in other areas?
This measure was implemented in Guyana last summer. The authorities had subjected the territory to a curfew during the week and to confinement during the weekend. Santé Publique France had observed a drop in the incidence rate, which had gone from a "very high" to "high" level. Local containment is "a measure that can work in small villages, which, if cut off from the world, could eradicate the virus", explained to Parisian epidemiologist Pascal Crepey on February 20.
Covid-19: when will we be able to measure the impact of containment on weekends?
The mayor of Coudekerque-Branche (North), David Bailleul, told BFMTV on February 24 that the impact of this measure could be assessed in 10 or 15 days. He hopes that weekend containment and the massive arrival of vaccine doses in areas heavily affected by the virus, as the Minister of Health has promised, will achieve the desired results.
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