The epidemiologist and member of the Scientific Council says he is confident that “in the long term”, the Covid-19 will fall into line and “will join the other seasonal coronaviruses”
The peak in the number of Covid-19 cases “should peak in mid-January,” epidemiologist Arnaud Fontanet told the Journal du Dimanche. “The peak in the number of cases is expected to peak in mid-January; the peak hospital could take place a week later […] Île-de-France will be the first to be affected, ”said this member of the Scientific Council.
In “a hospital already severely affected by 22 months of health crisis”, he said to expect “a huge logistical and organizational challenge”. The epidemiologist however indicated that “the increased use of teleworking will play an important role” in reducing the level of this peak, as well as “the aeration or ventilation efforts” of classes and canteens. He advocated stopping gym classes and indoor choirs for the time being.
Effective vaccines
The peak will be “of limited duration” because patients with this variant have a lower need for mechanical ventilation and stay in hospital for a shorter period, according to Arnaud Fontanet. Also in an interview with the JDD, the Minister of Health Olivier Véran clarified that according to British data, “there are three times less severe forms of the disease with Omicron than with Delta”. Arnaud Fontanet recalled that protection against severe forms “is very well preserved” with the vaccine, “of the order of 80-90% after a booster dose”.
“Ultimately, there is hope” and “Sars-CoV-2 will join other human seasonal coronaviruses that give us colds and tonsillitis every winter,” he said. “We’re not there yet. We can expect that new variants will emerge but, as our immunity strengthens over time, either by natural infection or with booster doses of the vaccine, their capacity to give severe forms will decrease ”, a-t -he says. According to Olivier Véran, “this fifth wave will perhaps be the last”: Omicron is so contagious that it “will lead to enhanced immunity” in the world, he says.