Thousands of French people could spend their Christmas in intensive care

Up to 4,000 citizens might need intensive care treatment over the holiday season, government spokesperson Gabriel Attal told the press on Wednesday. As the number of COVID-19 cases increases and the Omicron variant spreads, 2,800 patients are currently being treated in intensive care units.

“The pressure on hospitals will continue to increase in the coming weeks,” said Attal after the Council of Ministers’ meeting on Wednesday.

With the incidence rate exceeding the 500-mark earlier this week, France is currently witnessing “the highest incidence rate ever measured in our country”, he told the press.

During the last peak in cases, in April 2021, 6,000 patients were in intensive care units.

Because of these numbers, the government may also announce new measures “by the end of the week”, Attal warned. This could include stepping up the vaccination campaign and strengthening border controls during the holiday season.

Meanwhile, the COVID pass has been deactivated for 400,000 citizens above 65 who failed to get their booster shot within seven months after completing the previous vaccination cycle.

This measure will be extended to all French adults who have not taken their booster shot by 15 January.

(Magdalena Pistorius | EURACTIV.fr)