As of February 1, the government will end the isolation of positive cases of Covid-19 and the screening test for contact cases.
- As of January 28, 2023, there have been 4,513 new cases of Covid-19 in the past 24 hours, according to Santé Publique France.
- As of January 26, the percentage of the population having received a booster vaccination was 60.4%.
From this Wednesday, February 1, systematic isolation for people who test positive for Covid-19 is over. This is what the Directorate General of Health (DGS) announced this weekend. Screening tests for contact cases will also no longer be required. In a press release, relayed by The Parisianthe DGS supports this decision by pointing out a “favorable epidemic context, marked by very low viral circulation in mainland France and overseas” and “similar strategies in all European countries”.
Respect for barrier gestures remains recommended
In doing so, the government has decided to align itself with the recommendations of the High Council for Public Health (HCSP). Already before the summer, the body had defended the end of this rule if the evolution of the situation proved to be “favorable”. Until now, people who tested positive were required to self-isolate for at least 5 days and to be tested on the second day following notification of contact status for asymptomatic contact cases. These key pandemic measures will no longer be in effect in a few days.
“On the other hand, as with any illness with an acute respiratory infection, it remains strongly recommended that people who test positive for Covid-19, as well as people who have been exposed to a contagious person and likely to develop the disease, respect barrier gestures. , to be tested and to avoid contact with fragile people”underlines the Directorate General of Health.
The SI-DEP system for reporting test results will also undergo some modifications, even if it remains in place until June 30, 2023. From now on, its use “will be subject to the prior collection of the consent of the persons concerned, to the sharing of their personal data”specifies the DGS.
Health insurance will no longer be able to identify patients and contact cases
Tomorrow, January 31, the Health Insurance “Contact Covid” teleservice, which allowed the identification and care of Covid-19 patients and contact cases, will also be stopped. Which is not a surprise since this end was provided for by the law of July 30, 2022 organizing the end of the state of health emergency. The cessation of this “Contact Covid” service will therefore no longer allow Health Insurance to search for contact cases in the entourage of patients recognized as positive for Covid-19.
In addition, the end of these measures entails “de facto the end of the derogatory system for taking charge of sick leave linked to Covid-19”, explains the DGS in its press release. This means that work stoppages due to a case of Covid-19 are now part of the classic framework, which provides for a waiting period before the payment of daily allowances by Social Security.
