Time for another French Covid thread. The key stats– cases, deaths, acute cases and hospital population – are still climbing but not exploding. Cases are averaging 18,907 a day compared to 17,764 last week and 15,859 the week before that. 1/10

I would also like to draw attention (since French media seems unwilling to do so) to the rapid acceleration of France’s much-criticised vaccination drive. Over 100,000 people have been jabbed in each of last 2 days. Almost 700,000 people have now received a first jab in Fr. 2/10

This is still far behind the UK (approaching 5,000,000) which started three weeks earlier. It is also somewhat behind Germany (over 1,000,000 last weekend) which started on the same day as France (Dec 27). HOWEVER….3/10

It took the UK 24 days to reach 1,000,000 vaccinations. It took Germany 20 days. At the present rate, France should hit the 1,000,000 mark after 27 days – ie by this Saturday the 23rd of Jan (one week ahead of schedule).
4/10

Given France’s snail-like start – 560 jabs in 6 days – this is almost impressive. Further acceleration is planned now that vaccination is open to all over 75’s.. The target is 14,000,000 by mid-April. This will require an average of 138,000 a day – which now seems doable 5/10

On other Covid 19 stats…. The great threat hanging over France remains the “British variant” which spreads 70% faster than previous versions. There have been dire warnings from epidemiologists that France faces a possible explosion of cases – and new lockdown – next month. 6/10

SO FAR that is not really showing in the official stats. The average number of cases in the last 6 days was 18,907, compared to 17,764, 15,859 and 13,258 in previous weeks. There were, however, a menacing 26,784 cases reported on Wednesday…. 7/10

Deaths are now averaging 389.8 a day, compared to previous weekly figures of 353, 307.6. 343.2 and 373.8.
Total French Covid deaths since March 1 are 71,652
8/10

The pressure on hospitals and intensive care is rising – but not alarmingly. There were 2,852 C19 patients in ICU last night, compared to 2,740 six days ago. The hosp population is 643 up at 25,686. (In mid-April, there were over 7,000 C19 patients in ICU in France.)
9/10

Conclusion: We may, or may not, be on the cusp of a “third wave” of Covid-19 in France. The vaccine programme is accelerating but will make little difference to the figures for many more weeks. Hang in there.

10/10

Add... France vaccinated 130,790 people today, a new record, though still well behind UK daily rate. France has now jabbed 823,567 people. It should reach its 1m target for Jan by Sat. Health minister Olivier Veran said tonight whole country could be vaccinated by end of August.