Hospitalized Patients Exceed 30,000
[Asia Economy Reporter Ki Ha-young] France, which has the highest cumulative number of COVID-19 cases in Europe, recorded a historic high as daily new cases exceeded 500,000.
On the 25th (local time), the French Ministry of Health reported that 501,635 new COVID-19 positive cases were confirmed, and 467 people died from COVID-19. France's record for the highest number of new daily cases has been changing weekly: 332,252 on the 5th, 368,149 on the 11th, and 464,769 on the 18th.
The number of hospitalized COVID-19 patients returned to the level of April last year, when a somewhat relaxed third lockdown was imposed, with 30,189 patients. In intensive care units, 3,741 patients are receiving treatment. As of the 10th of this month, the Omicron variant accounted for about 96% of new confirmed cases.
According to the daily newspaper Le Parisien, France ranked first in Europe for the average number of COVID-19 cases over the past seven days, with 361,164 cases. Comparing new COVID-19 cases per one million population during the same period, Denmark had the highest at 6,836 cases, followed by France with 5,357 cases.
Jonathan Hou, an epidemiologist at the School of Public Health (EHESP), pointed out, "France has relied heavily on vaccines rather than restrictions, which has opened the way for the virus to spread more," adding, "It is a risk that can be tolerated because the healthcare system can withstand it." Professor Antoine Plaud, who leads the Institute of Global Health (ISG) at the University of Geneva in Switzerland, analyzed that the COVID-19 spread in France was ignited earlier this month in conjunction with the start of the school term.
Despite this situation, the French government plans to lift restrictions on the number of people allowed in public places, outdoor mask mandates, and mandatory remote work starting from February 2nd. From February 16th, eating and drinking will be allowed again in stadiums, cinemas, and public transportation, and nightclubs, which have been closed since December last year, will be allowed to operate.
France has the fourth highest cumulative number of COVID-19 cases worldwide, with 17,302,548 cases, surpassing the UK to have the highest number in Europe. The cumulative death toll is 129,489, ranking 12th globally. 79.8% of the total population has received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, and 77.9% have completed vaccination.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
