In the face of the influx of patients and the deterioration of all indicators of the epidemic, Level 2 of the White Plan was launched on Tuesday 7 December in public and private hospitals in Baka region. At La Timone in Marseille, there is only one Covid bed left in intensive care.
The infection rate has exceeded 600 cases per 100,000 inhabitants in the Bouches-du-Rhone and the number of hospitalized patients is increasing.
Regionally, the infection rate is over 420 per 100,000 population and the positivity rate is over 6.5%.
In the face of these consequences of the fifth wave of the Covid-19 epidemic, ARS Paca launched the white plan in all hospitals in the region. As in AP-HM:
“The impact of this new infection is now very significant on hospitalization and recovery services. (…) Monday, December 6, 2021, 140 patients were hospitalized including 36 in intensive care”This was stated by François Crémieux, General Manager of AP-HM.
“Given the situation, we are raising our level of vigilance and launching Level 2 of the White Plan in order to better prepare AP-HM to meet the expected increase in the number of COVID patients in Marseille.”
In Timone’s intensive care unit, there is only one Covid bed left. “We are witnessing an acceleration in the number of admissions more than what the Pasteur Institute expected”, testifies to Lionel Fili, head of La Timone’s Anesthesia and Resuscitation Service. “This puts our structures under a lot of pressure”.
The White Plan, which has been in law since 2004, is a specific health emergency and crisis plan for planning the rapid and rational implementation of essential means in the event of an influx of victims into a hospital institution, the ARS recalls.
It makes it possible to mobilize health institutions, professionals, material and logistical resources and adapt the medical activity of the enterprise.
The ARS invites all volunteer health professionals (students, retirees, self-employed, employees, etc.) in the Baka region to provide support to the hospital’s healthcare teams.
Non-urgent interventions can be deprogrammed, but this is not the case at the moment in the region, as Lionel Fili at La Timon laments: “Without deprogramming, and despite the white plan, our staff will run out.”
Deprogramming will be required.
Lionel FiliHead of Department of Anesthesia and Resuscitation Latimon
In Timone’s intensive care unit, 80% of the beds are occupied by unvaccinated patients. The average age of those accepted is 53 years old. “We have a lot of young patients.”, confirms Professor Willy.
“We are seeing a wave of mostly unvaccinated people.”. The remaining 20% are people who are undergoing immunosuppressive treatments or whose effects have worn off. Those who took their second dose in January or February, for example.
Lionel Fili repeats it: “The absolute urgency is that all eligible persons go for their third dose. It works remarkably well. Allows in less than a week to reactivate the immunity against Delta.”
Regarding the arrival of Omicron in France and the region, there is no need to worry, for now.
“Omicron for February or March. The fifth wave is a delta.”
As a reminder, vaccination with the third dose is open to all adults in France from 5 months after the last injection. Appointments must be made on the Maiia website.
As of December 15, 2021, people over the age of 65 must have received a booster dose for their health card to remain valid.
Since Tuesday, December 7, people over 65 can be vaccinated anywhere and without an appointment.