The fourth wave worries scientists and authorities more with each passing day. In an interview with Journal du Dimanche issued this July 25, Île-de-France ARS director Aurélien Rousseau fears this new wave. He thinks in the event of an early arrival – at the beginning of August – it will then likely be “a major risk” for hospitals.
“After three waves, there is no doubt: yes, there will be an impact on hospitals”, Rousseau claims, yet adding that “epidemic model projections are more uncertain than last summer”, as long as a part of the population is vaccinated.
“The major risk would be an early outbreak of the wave, in August, as there is a staff shortfall. If it happens in September, more staff would have resumed work, but one cannot evacuate a year and a half of work in a few weeks of rest”, he considers, in the interview.
Furthermore, to curb the 4th wave of contaminations, Rousseau reminds that “we have a massive weapon: vaccination. […] Each injection can prevent admission in ICU within a month”, he claims.
Visiting French Polynesia this July 25, Emmanuel Macron also reminded the importance of getting vaccinated to face the spread of the Delta variant in the country.