How will the health crisis evolve in the coming days and weeks in France? This is the question many specialists have as terraces, non-necessary stores and some cultural places are to reopen from May 19. This Monday May 10, 2021, invited on France Inter, Pr. Arnaud Fontanet considers “we need to be very cautious until late June. […] If we can vaccinate as quick as we can do so today, we may reach 50% of people vaccinated by early July. And if over 50% of the population is vaccinated, then I do think we may enter summer in good conditions”, Institut Pasteur epidemiologist and member of the Scientific Committee said on radio.
Pr. Fontanet also confirmed the incidence rate is decreasing, an encouraging signal for the future. “The incidence has been quickly decreasing for three weeks. It declines by about 22% per week. It shows well the measures made by the end of March/early April have worked. It also shows we are on a rapid trend. If we were to continue on the same trend, as of May 25, there could be 10,000 cases per day and as of June 15, 5,000 cases per day. We may enter summer better than we have been able to in a long time”.
Last but not least, the Institut Pasteur epidemiologist intended to warn about the Indian variant. “There are three variants worrying us, including the latest to date, the Indian variant. […] In the UK, the health authorities have reported 150 clusters of the Indian variant already”, Fontanet said.
As for Olivier Véran, this May 10, he said on LCI he was “extremely ensuring that there are not too many people contaminated by foreign variants”. As for the Indian variant, “there were about twenty cases last week, there is no particular evolution”, the Health Minister claimed.
