Just when you thought it was safe . . .

[Blaze]

It depends if people are testing or not, In ED they are testing if symptomatic so know if it’s flu A/B or the ‘ Rona .People I’ve seen are saying not corona so I would imagine are home testing,it’s differentiating between other viruses that’s probably the issue

Exactly, Pathca.
PCR and antigène tests check the variant and so far, according to the press, there appear to be only a few cases of XBB.1.5 in France, though there's nothing on the official government website. However, if people are home-testing, and are positive, they won't know which variant they have unless they back it up with a PCR (which people don't always do). It's tricky in winter when people have cold or flu-like symptoms because not everyone will have a PCR test (just as well as it would cost the health service a fortune as PCRs are free in France) so we can't know the true figures.

The latest figures from Covidtracker https://covidtracker.fr show that Covid infections are not rising at the moment but that could change ....
For official information :
https://www.gouvernement.fr/info-corona ... et-donnees

[Bayleaf]

The Bayleaf family braved a trip to Périgueux last Thursday - a bit of early birthday shopping for Mr Bayleaf, and a family lunch in our favourite Asian buffet Resto. Despite getting there early, we forgot everyone else was on holiday (it's so long since we've been in a restaurant!), that it wasn't long before the place was heaving. By the time we left, people were waiting for tables.

If we didn't catch something from that excursion, it will be a miracle.

[Pathca]

We had a guy the other week who was flu and Covid positive,we did recommend that he didn’t cross the road anytime soon after he was discharged

[demi]

Patcha - Sorry to hear you have got the dreaded 'rona. Do take it easy. I had it (mildly) in June & had to pace myself for about a month or was just flattened with exhaustion.

[Bayleaf]

From the Sud Ouest today:

"On l’avait presque oublié. Mais en plein cœur de l’été, il a refait surface, rappelant à nos esprits que la menace est toujours présente. Sous l’influence de nouveaux variants comme Eris, un sous-variant de la famille Omicron, le Covid-19 a provoqué un rebond épidémique modéré cet été, incitant à la vigilance. Si l’on ne dispose plus d’indicateurs aussi efficaces qu’au pic de la pandémie (taux d’incidence, etc.), les urgences françaises ont tout de même constaté que le nombre de patients suspectés d’avoir le Covid a augmenté de 31 % la semaine du 31 juillet au 6 août comparé à la précédente, soit 920 malades, selon Santé publique France."


More mask wearing is being reported, certainly in some hospitals. I know the majority of the World seem to have forgotten about the virus, and they're all partying "like it's 1999", but even with the vaccines, it exists still. I am happy to remain vigilant.

[Blaze]

We know several people who've had it round here. It's never gone away from our area but fortunately the cases seems to have been fairly mild.
We had our 4th jab last November, others had it it some time before then so I would imagine the effectiveness would be wearing off. We don't have our flu jabs until November (recommended by the medics round here) so I don't know how much protection we'll have by then.

This summer I've seen virtually no-one wearing a mask. It would seem that they are being worn in hospitals here for operations, but not for medical visits.

[niemeyjt]

What is the rule regarding 5th jab in France? Here and in the UK it seems to be over 65s or immunocompromised (unless pathca can advise better).

[Char]

What is the rule regarding 5th jab in France? Here and in the UK it seems to be over 65s or immunocompromised (unless pathca can advise better).

Here's the French info -https://sante.gouv.fr/grands-dossiers/v ... el-covid19
notice it does say that if you want a jab and you don't come under the listed criteria you can still have a jab.

Me I'm sticking to masks and hand gel, seeing as I got it after being jabbed I don't see the point in another one tbh. Besides anything else both of us are still suffering from the after effects of the virus, so I don't think it would be a good idea to stress my body any more.

[Blaze]

Me I'm sticking to masks and hand gel, seeing as I got it after being jabbed I don't see the point in another one tbh.

The vaccine was never guaranteed to stop anyone catching the virus, just to reduce the severity of the symptoms.
If you don't want another jab, it's advisable to use an FFP2 mask which will protect you more than an FFP3, particularly if your immune system is not good.
The symptoms vary from person to person, but we've heard of many people who seem to have had lingering effects.
Avoiding people is the safest bet !!

[Lori]

Had to visit the MT last week (not Covid thank God). No one was wearing a mask but me. Passed by the pharmacy after, again, no masks (staff or clients) except me.