As the fast-spreading omicron variant complicates French officials’ efforts to prevent a new lockdown, the French government reported more than 100,000 viral infections in a single day for the first time in this pandemic. Additionally, Covid-19 hospitalizations have doubled during the past month.
According to the regional health service, more than one in 100 Parisians tested positive in the past week. The majority of new infections are associated with the omicron variant, which is already prevalent in Britain, which is situated across the Channel. Government experts forecast Omicron will predominate in France in the coming days.
In France, a spike in delta variant infections in recent months has led to a rise in hospital admissions, and strained ICUs once again over the Christmas holidays. Over the past week, more than 1,000 people in France have died because of the virus, making the death toll in the country more than 122,000.
Scientists and educators have suggested delaying the post-holiday return to school, or restoring curfews as a way to combat the virus. The government is holding emergency meetings on Monday to discuss how best to combat the disease.
France’s education minister says schools will open on Jan. 3 as usual and government officials are working to avoid actions that would inhibit economic recovery in the country.
