Why was France so anxious about a fast-spreading mutant virus just across the straits of Dover? Maybe the French overreacted. Maybe they didn’t. But France has something to protect. Its Covid stats are currently less bad than any of its neighbours. My weekly Fr. Covid thread. 1/6

In France in the last 7 days the daily average number of cases was 13,830, slightly up on last week’s 12,120. Frantic testing is in progress – up to 500,000 people a day. The positive rate for tests has fallen to 4.3%, from 6.2% last week. 2/6

When cases are surging in many European countries, these are reasonable figures (for now). The health minister, Olivier Véran, talks of a “plateau” – well above the government’s 5,000 new cases a day target but a plateau all the same. 3/6

Nine days after France’s second lockdown was eased, other key stats are also stable or falling. The average daily number of C19 deaths in France in the last 7days was 373.8, compared to 401.88 the previous week. The French death toll since 1 March is now 61,978. 4/6

The population in intensive care continues to fall very slowly. There were 2,710 C19 patients in ICU in France last night, compared to 2,808 a week ago. Total C19 hospital population is 24,884, compared to 25,182 a week ago. 5/6

Conclusion: The second wave is still here but there is no sign a “third wave” or resurgent second wave - yet - in France. Will Christmas festivity change that? Will the mutant virus change that?
6/6