In the last few weeks, cases of coronavirus have soared again in Metz.
Local health authorities reported an average of 395.6 cases per 100,000 people between 24 and 30 January. This is roughly double the same figure in Reims and Mulhouse and significantly higher than Strasbourg’s and Nancy’s.
The positivity rate remains high in Metz as well with 9.8% of tests returning positive compared to 7% for other larger cities. Amongst people older than 65, average weekly cases and positivity rates are even more elevated, reaching 414 and 13.8% respectively.
A spokesperson of the regional health authorities said that they had trouble understanding the recent uptick. She did say though that some cases are linked to clusters in care homes.
While some departments have seen a decline or stagnation of cases, the Moselle department is heading in the other direction. This is even more surprising considering that the area was one of the first ones to implement the 6PM curfew.
In the entire region Grand Est, the number of hospital admission is rising since mid-December, just days after the second lockdown ended. On 1 February, roughly 71% of ICU beds are taken up by Covid patients, which is almost as many as during the peak of the second lockdown.
According to the latest figures, 23,000 people have been vaccinated in the department Moselle – slightly over 2% of the population.
