Faced with the triple epidemic of Covid-19, influenza and bronchiolitis, the Committee for monitoring and anticipating health risks (Covars) recommends“amplify as quickly as possible” barrier gestures and vaccination. In an opinion published Monday, December 19, the successor of the Scientific Council to guide the executive in health matters does not pronounce for or against an obligation to wear a mask in closed places.
New recommendations from Covars were expected in the face of “an active resumption of circulation of SARS-CoV-2, crossing the epidemic threshold of influenza and an intense and early epidemic of bronchiolitis, as well as in anticipation of the next end-of-year holidays, a source of significant intergenerational mixing ».
On the mask, the Committee observes the “very low level of wearing a mask in public transport and other closed places” and specifies that ” earnings “ of a widespread wearing in such places “would relate to the three ongoing epidemics”, in its new opinion submitted to the Ministry of Health and Prevention. The group chaired by immunologist Brigitte Autran does not decide for or against the obligation to wear a mask, but lists the arguments in favor of an obligation (“low effectiveness of the recommendation messages maintained”) and against (“perception of the limitation of individual freedoms”).
Lagging vaccination
In the “new elements to help public decision-making on wearing a mask”the Committee points out the “critical situation of the hospital”the loss of effectiveness of preventive treatments for certain immunocompromised people, the low levels of vaccination against Covid-19 and influenza in populations at risk that are often identical.
Obligation or not, the Committee recommends “reinforce the accessibility/free availability of masks in all places where they are needed”from “limit the cost and ensure its distribution to all those wishing to use it”.
For vaccination, the Covars calls for the“intensify” against Covid-19 and the flu, with “incentive and transparent communication aimed at the general population”, “strengthening of communication intended for caregivers on the benefits and limits of booster shots”strong and rapid actions towards certain populations, or even the reopening of specific centres.
If it has rebounded in recent weeks, the fall anti-Covid vaccination remains behind, reflecting “difficulties for the population and certain health professionals to understand the objectives of these repeated reminders”. However, several recent data “confirm the benefit of the 2e and 3e real-life reminders against symptomatic and severe forms of Covid-19 »underlines the opinion.