The explosion in the number of new Covid-19 contaminations in France undoubtedly implies an explosion in the number of people with contact cases. Duration of isolation, tests to be carried out, deadlines to be observed … All the information, on a case-by-case basis, on what to do in the event of contact with a positive case on this page.
Whoever says hundreds of thousands of new positive cases for Covid-19 per day, says as much, if not more, of new contact cases every day. If you yourself have been in contact with someone who subsequently tested positive, the government has made new rules about what to do, depending on your vaccination schedule. This new protocol, which entered into force on January 3, 2022, is available on website of the Ministry of Health and Solidarity. We will note in particular the duration of isolation of the contact case, modified on the occasion of these new methods, as well as the number of Covid-19 screening tests to be carried out and their distribution over the days of the week.
If you have a complete vaccination schedule (vaccination against Covid-19 and vaccination booster carried out in accordance with the requirements of the health pass), you are no longer required to isolate yourself. However, you must observe strict compliance with barrier measures (in particular wearing a mask indoors and outdoors) and avoid any contact with people at risk of severe Covid. In addition, you should telecommute, if possible. You must also perform a TAG or RT-PCR test as soon as you learn to be a contact, then perform self-tests on D + 2 and D + 4 after the last contact with the positive person. If the self-test is positive, you must then confirm the result by screening with a TAG or RT-PCR – which, if positive, makes you a positive case for Covid-19.
If, on the other hand, you have an incomplete vaccination schedule and that you learn to be in contact with a positive person at coronavirus, you must respect isolation for a period of 7 days (full) from the date of the last contact. At the end of these 7 days, you must perform an antigen test or RT-PCR and have a negative result – in the event of a positive result, you become positive for Covid-19 and must isolate yourself.
With regard to children under 12 in contact, the national education protocol applies. Three tests are to be done for contact case students wishing to return to school: a first on D0 (the day of the announcement of the contact case) and self-tests on D + 2 and D + 4. It is up to the pupil’s parents to present a certificate on the honor of carrying out these tests and of negative results. The executive stresses that “the self-tests whose performance is provided for in the screening scheme for people in contact cases (for people with a complete vaccination scheme and children under 12) will be covered by health insurance and delivered free of charge in pharmacies after completion of the test on D0. “
For contact persons who do not have a complete vaccination schedule (with booster dose), you must isolate yourself:
- 7 days from the date of the last contact with the positive case
- 10 additional days if the result of your screening – to be carried out at the end of the first 7 days of isolation as a “contact case” – is positive. However, after 7 days of isolation as a positive coronavirus case, you can potentially be released from isolation, on two conditions: whether you perform an antigen or RT-PCR test that is negative and you do not have had more clinical signs of infection for 48 hours. Otherwise, you must indeed isolate yourself for 10 days.
Health insurance distinguishes three types of “contact person” in the context of the fight against the coronavirus: high risk contact person, moderate risk contact person and negligible risk contact person.
People who do not have a complete vaccination schedule (vaccination more than 7 months ago but no booster) are considered as high-risk contact cases and:
- having had direct contact with the positive (or probably positive) person for Covid-19, face-to-face, within 2 meters, regardless of the duration (example: conversation, meal, physical contact);
- having given or received acts of hygiene or care to the positive (or probably positive) person for Covid-19;
- having shared an interior space (office or meeting room, personal vehicle, restaurant room, etc.) for at least 15 consecutive or cumulative minutes over 24 hours with the positive (or probably positive) person or having remained face-to-face with she during several episodes of coughing or sneezing.
People with a complete vaccination schedule (with vaccination booster) and:
- having had direct contact with the positive (or probably positive) person for Covid-19, face-to-face, within 2 meters, regardless of the duration (example: conversation, meal, physical contact);
- having given or received acts of hygiene or care to the positive (or probably positive) person for Covid-19;
- having shared an interior space (office or meeting room, personal vehicle, restaurant room, etc.) for at least 15 consecutive or cumulative minutes over 24 hours with the positive (or probably positive) person or having remained face-to-face with she during several episodes of coughing or sneezing.
Finally, contact cases of negligible risk are considered to be people who were infested with Covid-19 less than two months ago and people belonging to all other contact situations not described above. Health Insurance further specifies that “these definitions of contact person do not apply either for hospital health professionals (an assessment is made by the occupational physician and the operational hygiene team) or for the school environment” .
When should a test be done? It varies. If you live with someone who is positive for Covid-19, the test should be done as soon as possible. On the other hand, if you have met a sick individual, but you do not live in the same home as him, it is necessary to wait seven days after having been in contact with him to be tested. This period is not trivial. If the screening test is taken too early, you may be negative, but later you will become positive. Another case that can occur is the onset of symptoms during this seven-day period. If you see any signs of appearing during your isolation, go get tested immediately. While waiting for the results, we must remain isolated.
When an employee with a high-risk contact case cannot telework, he can request an isolation certificate on the Health Insurance website. After verification, the Health Insurance will issue an isolation certificate serving as a notice of termination, via the Ameli account or by mail.