Ten days before Christmas, the Scientific Council recommends that the French self-isolate for a week before Christmas Eve, to limit the risk of contamination and the spread of the SARS-Cov-2 virus.
- The Scientific Council recommends the French and their children to self-isolate for a week before New Year’s Eve.
- Experts also recommend carrying out tests, using the Tous AntiCovid application and respecting barrier gestures during family or friend gatherings.
As the end-of-year holidays approach, the Scientific Council is issuing recommendations on what to do “to protect yourself from Covid-19, but also others”. In addition to the curfew, theExperts first recommend limiting family and friends gatherings as much as possible.
Four strategies identified
In addition, four strategies have been identified by the Scientific Council:
– preventive self-confinement of people who have planned to spend the end-of-year holidays with people at risk (elders or fragile people);
– carrying out tests before the New Year’s Eve evenings of December 24 and 31, 2020;
– respect the practical recommendations for the New Year’s Eve evenings of December 24 and 31, 2020 as specified in the recent opinion of the High Council for Public Health, which will be published shortly;
– the use of the Tous AntiCovid application.
Self-containment, what does that mean?
Among adults, self-quarantine means restricting contacts as much as possible a week before December 24 or 31, especially for those who wish to spend holidays with family. The latter must, if they can, take leave during this period. Failing this, teleworking is preferred.
With regard to schools and high schools, the Scientific Council makes two proposals:
– reinforce barrier measures at school and in high schools the week of 14 December, especially during high-risk periods during meals when children do not wear their masks. As such, it is recommended that schools avoid gatherings linked to the end-of-year celebrations in schools;
– leave tolerance to families who can and who wish to extend the school holiday period by two days so that self-confinement for a week is also possible for children. It is therefore recommended not to penalize school absences on December 17 and 18.
Which tests, in which cases and when to do them?
The Scientific Council foresees two scenarios for the use, or not, of virological tests. When they are recommended (see below), it is recommended to carry out these tests on the Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday before New Year’s Eve. “The test carried out on Wednesday or Thursday would be ideal provided that the test result is available before New Year’s Eve on December 24 or 31”, say the experts.
If a person is symptomatic in the week preceding the days of December 24, 25, 31 and January 1, they should receive a diagnostic test and isolate themselves without waiting for the test result. An antigen test can be performed if the onset of symptoms is recent (less than 3 days) and an RT-PCR test if the onset of symptoms is older (greater than 4 days).
If a person is asymptomatic and is wondering whether or not to take a test, two scenarios arise:
– if there is risk taking in the week preceding the days of December 24, 25, 31 and January 1 due to a multiplication of contacts or a proven positive contact, an RT-PCR test can be carried out, or failing that, an antigen test.
– if there is no risk-taking or self-confinement has taken place in the week preceding the days of December 24, 25, 31 and January 1, virological tests (RT-PCR or antigenic tests) n have little or no interest. They are therefore not recommended.
The Scientific Council warns the French about the notion of false security. “Negative virological tests, in particular antigenic tests given their lower sensitivity, do not make it possible to exclude an infection and the application of barrier gestures remains essential in this case”say the experts.
A plateau observed on the number of new contaminations
The efforts undertaken in recent weeks by the vast majority of French people have enabled a significant drop in new cases of infection and hospitalizations in our country, after several weeks of reduced confinement. “However, the plateau observed today in the number of new infections and the situation in other European countries call for the greatest caution. The balance is fragile and we could all, if the efforts were relaxed during this particular period, quickly bear the consequences, whether social, economic, cultural or in terms of physical and mental health”, concludes the Scientific Council.
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