News Digest: 20% of Over-75s Still Not Vaccinated

The latest report provided by French health authorities concerning the Covid-19 pandemic, reveals 5,605,895 confirmed cases, with 2,229 new cases in the 24 hours to Monday.

There were 62 deaths reported, bringing the total to 108,658. The number of deaths in EHPADs (care homes) and EMS (medico-socio centres) is 26,362, while the total number of deaths in hospitals is 82,296.

The reproducibility rate R is 0.78, the incidence rate is 126.12 and the hospitalisation rate is 69.1%. The test positivity rate is 2.8%.

France currently has 19,701 (19 fewer) people hospitalised and 3,496 patients in intensive care.

According to data from Santé Public France, here is the breakdown of cases and deaths by region:

• Ile-de-France: 5,220 (-15) hospitalised, 1,062 (-13) in intensive care and +13 deaths in 24h
• Grand Est: 1,574 (+7) hospitalised, 253 (-1) in intensive care and +5 deaths in 24h
• Hauts de France: 2,515 (+12) hospitalised, 460 (0) in intensive care and +10 deaths in 24h
• Auvergne Rhône Alpes: 2,241 (-5) hospitalised, 374 (-4) in intensive care and +6 deaths in 24h
• Provence-Alpes Côte d’Azur: 1,836 (-10) hospitalised, 320 (+3) in intensive care and +8 deaths in 24h
• Brittany: 592 (-2) hospitalised, 67 (-1) in intensive care and +4 deaths in 24h
• Normandy: 1,116 (-2) hospitalised, 158 (+1) in intensive care and +2 deaths in 24h
• Nouvelle-Aquitaine: 975 (+5) hospitalised, 166 (+3) in intensive care and +1 death in 24h
• Pays de la Loire: 530 (-4) hospitalised, 94 (+2) in intensive care and +2 deaths in 24h
• Occitanie: 1,069 (-4) hospitalised, 212 (0) in intensive care and +6 deaths in 24h
• Centre-Val de Loire: 716 (-6) hospitalised, 110 (-1) in intensive care and 0 deaths in 24h
• Bourgogne-Franche-Comté: 792 (+3) hospitalised, 110 (-4) in intensive care and +3 deaths in 24h

Vaccinations update

Latest vaccination figures from France at the weekend reveal that 22,933,520 people have received their first dose of vaccine. This represents 34.23% of the population. Of these, 10,578,549 (15.79%) have also received a second jab.

20% of over-75s still not vaccinated

One in five French people aged 75 or over have not yet received a first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine.

While 65% in this age bracket have received both doses of the vaccine, only 80% have had their first jab.

Studies show that the risk of severe forms of the virus decreases by 87% in people over 75 years old who have been vaccinated.

In order to help increase access to the vaccine, several ‘solidarity’ operations are being set up across France, including volunteers going door-to-door to raise awareness about vaccination.

Special transport is being provided to transport patients to vaccination centres, while in some isolated rural areas, specially adapted mobile ‘vaccination buses’ are being used.

Attestation d’acceuil latest

Last week we reported on the ongoing confusion surrounding UK visitors’ need to provide an attestation d’acceuil (welcome certificate) at border control when visiting France, to stay at a private residence (for example, with friends or relatives who live in, or who have a second home, in France).

The attestation, which costs €30, is obtained by the host via their local mairie and forwarded on to guests to present at customs, and is listed as a requirement for non-EU visitors.

While some news outlets are now reporting that such a document can be replaced by a simple letter of invitation from the host as proof of address for your stay, FrenchEntrée is waiting for further official clarification from France’s Interior Ministry.

While you must prove you have travel insurance and sufficient means for your stay (€120 per day), there is little evidence that UK travellers visiting France to stay with members of the public (Airbnb, hotel stays, etc, are not affected) are being ritually asked for the attestation at the border.

However, until the official line is clarified we advise that it is not worth taking the risk. Especially as the British Foreign Office’s France travel advice page still says:

You should also be prepared to:
Show proof of your accommodation, for example, a hotel booking confirmation, proof of address if visiting your own property (e.g. second home), or an invitation from your host if staying with a third party, friends or family. As detailed by the French Ministry of Interior, you may be requested to provide an “attestation d’accueil”. French residents will need to acquire the “attestation d’accueil” and pass it on to you before you enter France.