Covid-19: the number of cases has exploded in four days in Guadeloupe

The situation is alarming in Guadeloupe. The number of new cases of Covid-19 has quadrupled in four days in Guadeloupe, a rate “well above the alert threshold”, announced Friday the Regional Health Agency (ARS) and the prefecture. As of December 31, the number of new cases accumulated over four days is 2,191 (against 543 cases over 7 days last week), for 18,300 people tested. The 10-19 year olds and the 20-39 year olds represent 65% of these new cases. The shift towards older age groups is underway, details a press release.

“The positivity rate is 10.4%, and the incidence rate is 634 / 100,000 inhabitants over the last 7 rolling days. These rates are very sharply increasing, and now the rates have fallen in a few days very low. – Above the alert threshold. The spread of the virus is exponential, “the text warns. The Omicron variant is present in 46% of samples in Guadeloupe (67% of samples in Saint-Martin and 88% of samples in Saint-Barthélemy).

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Eleven active clusters

Currently 11, “clusters” are being monitored in Guadeloupe and the Northern Islands (schools, hotels, nightclub, bar, private parties), according to the same source. From mid-July to mid-October, the Covid-19 epidemic caused a total of 822 deaths in Guadeloupe, according to the authorities. Vaccination in Guadeloupe is progressing very slowly, with less than 47% of those over 18 having had a first dose.

However, out of 16,500 health professionals subject to compulsory vaccination, “nearly 94%” are “in compliance” and “out of the 6% non-compliant, half of them are not bedside caregivers. “, according to an ARS press release published on Wednesday. A “support committee for suspended personnel” has been set up, aimed at supporting personnel subject to compulsory vaccination and having refused it. The French overseas ministry announced last week that health workers in the Antilles refractory to the vaccination obligation would be “suspended” on December 31 and could “move into a new profession” via a “retraining unit”.