To fight against the rapid spread of variants, health protocols are being strengthened: better tracing of variants, extension of the duration of isolation and new rules in schools. The focus is on tracking down South African and Brazilian variants.
- New rules have just been laid down to better detect the presence in France of SARS-CoV-2 variants
- Each positive person will now have to perform an RT-PCR test within 36 hours to determine which strain of the virus it is
- The isolation goes from 7 to 10 days and an exit PCR test will have to be carried out
Faced with the rapid spread of variants on the territory, the General Directorate of Health (DGS) counter-attacked. As of today, new measures come into force and health protocols are reinforced. “Given the progression of the distribution of variants [dites britannique, sud-africaine et brésilienne] on the national territory, additional measures are implemented“, she said in a note published on Sunday February 7 for the attention of all health professionals. It adds a “specific reinforcement” regarding the South African and Brazilian variants “now a minority but which present a risk of immune and vaccine escape”.
Tracked variants
The first objective of the DGS is to track down this variant and to carry out a systematic identification policy. For this, she decided to generalize the “variant screening strategy”. From now on, all positive antigen or PCR tests will have to “must be subject to a second-line screening RT-PCR, carried out within a maximum of 36 hours”. These tests aim to sequence the virus to identify whether it is the classic strain of the virus or a variant. The English variant, the most present in the territory and which currently represents around 14% of contaminations, could become the majority strain by the beginning of March, in particular estimated the epidemiologist and member of the scientific council Arnaud Fontanet. Four cases of the Brazilian variant have been detected, said Olivier Véran last Thursday during a press conference. The South African variant circulates a little more, especially in the east of France where it was spotted in Metz and in the territory of Belfort.
The noose is also tightening for contact cases of people carrying the South African and Brazilian variants. They are now asked to be tested on “D0”, that is to say as soon as one of these variants is authenticated. If the PCR test is positive, an RT-PCR screening test must be carried out immediately to identify the variant in question. All those who are positive will have the possibility of receiving home help from a nurse and will see themselves “systematically propose a specific accommodation offer”.
Reinforcement of rules at school
The isolation of infected people is extended to better contain the virus and its variants. All patients infected with the Brazilian or South African strain are forced to isolate themselves for ten days, compared to seven previously. “Due to the increased contagiousness of these two variants, an isolation exit test must be systematically carried out for people who are carriers.”, adds the DGS. If this test proves positive, seven additional days of isolation must be carried out by the infected person.
Since 1er February, the school health protocol is reinforced with a systematic closure of classes from a positive case for kindergartens and a single case of variant for the other levels. These new measures have doubled the number of closed classes in one week, from 444 on January 29 to 934 on February 5. In its note released on Sunday February 7, the DGS further tightens the measures. From now on, a single positive case for the South African and Brazilian variants or if a student is a contact case of a person infected with one of these variants will lead to the closure of the class. The same principle applies to teachers. The isolation of children, or teachers, then follows the new rules and their quarantines now extend over ten days with the obligation to have a negative exit PCR test. Children and teaching staff must wear a type 1 surgical mask and homemade masks are now prohibited.
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