The Scientific Council, created in March 2020 to assist the government in managing the Covid-19 pandemic, now has 17 members. The new members are specialists in infectious diseases but also represent other disciplines such as youth health or elder care. These are health issues that are increasingly significant.
These profiles strengthen the Scientific Council where several scientific disciplines were already represented. Geriatrician Olivier Guérin, head of the geriatric department at the Nice University Hospital and president of the French Society of Geriatrics and Gerontology, and more recently deputy for health to Christian Estrosi (2014-2020), is joining, as well as infectious disease specialist Catherine Chirouze, head of the infectious diseases department at the University Hospital of Besançon (Doubs). Finally, child psychiatrist Angèle Consoli, who practices at the Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital in Paris, is also a new member. She has notably worked on bipolar disorders.
Another new addition is Thierry Lefrançois. He is a veterinary researcher at the International Cooperation Center for Agronomic Research for Development (Cirad) and also a specialist in infectious diseases. He particularly works on the One Health concept, which integrates the health of humans, animals, and the environment.
The inclusion of a veterinarian in this Scientific Council has been requested for several months, notably by the LREM deputy Loïc Dombreval, who is a veterinarian himself.
