Paris hospitals prepare for ‘major influx’ of Covid patients as Lille and Lyon brace for clampdown

Paris is to channel more hospital staff to treat Covid patients as ICU occupancy rates surpass 40 per cent

Credit: LUCAS BARIOULET/ AFP

Paris hospitals have been told to “mobilise all ressources” to treat Covid patients after the numbers occupying intensive care beds surpassed 40 per cent in the French capital.

The decision to launch a “reinforced white plan” came as the French government was due to place Lyon and Lille on maximum Covid-19 alert, paving the way for new restrictions to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus in the two cities. 

Paris and Marseille are already on this maximum alert level — one short of total lockdown. Health minister Olivier Veran will announce the decision at a news conference on Thursday.

The change of status in Paris hospitals means staff may now be “relocated internally” and, if necessary, recalled from holiday while new temporary staff may also be taken on to deal with rising admissions.

With 455 Covid patients receiving intensive care on Wednesday, more than 40 per cent per cent of intensive care units are now taken up by those hit by the coronavirus. 

The regional health body, ARS, said the white plan would help “anticipate a large influx of sick people” and “make space” in the appropriate wards.   That could lead to the further suspension of non-Covid operations. Late last month, Paris hospitals, AP-HP, already decided to put off 20 per cent of surgical operations.

"We are not in a normal situation, and we won't be for several months," said President Emmanuel Macron 

Credit: Lewis Joly/AP POOL

General restrictions have been tightened in Paris and Marseille with cafes and bars closed for two weeks and restaurants told to respect new sanitary protocols to stay open.

Such measures are due to be extended to Lille and Lyon with the health minister, Olivier Véran, due to announce them in a press conference on Thursday evening.

The changes come a day after health authorities reported a record 24-hour rise in new Covid-19 infections, with almost 19,000 additional cases reported.

The rate of positive test results rose to 9.1 percent from around 4.5 percent a month ago.

"The virus has been spreading faster in recent weeks," said President Emmanuel Macron late on Wednesday.

"In places where it is spreading too fast, especially where it is spreading among the elderly who are most at risk, and where there are more and more intensive care beds being occupied, we must proceed to more restrictions," he said on French TV.

"We are not in a normal situation, and we won’t be for several months," said Mr Macron.

France has the ninth-highest Covid-19 death toll in the world, with 32,445 casualties.