Coronavirus France: live information, assessment of measures

[Mis à jour le 7 janvier 2022 à 16h40] Near 300,000 new cases of Covid have been identified over the past 24 hours in France according to figures from Public Health France. “Yes, we will continue to put the strain on the unvaccinated and we assume it“, insisted Jean Castex interviewed on January 6 on BFMTV-RMC. This will notably involve the establishment of a vaccine pass, which was adopted at first reading in the National Assembly and will be examined by the Senate on January 11 and 12. The government is still aiming for a entered into force on January 15, but this date could be postponed in view of the delay in the debates. To date, 77% of the French population have a complete vaccination schedule, 21% are still not vaccinated. The start of the week was marked by the establishment of new measures like evolution in isolation rules for positive and contact cases, the reinforcement of teleworking in business, the wearing a mask compulsory from 6 years old, the return of gauges in major events …

Live Info

• Record cases last Monday. Monday, January 3, 409,370 new positive cases for Covid-19 were recorded, indicates the SI-DEP platform according to data updated a posteriori by the health authorities. An unprecedented record in France.
• Change for testing. In his letter of January 2, the DGS indicates that it is no longer necessary to confirm by RT-PCR a result of antigenic test (TAG) positive “taking into account the intense viral circulation” and to relieve the laboratories. On the other hand, in the event of a positive self-test, the result should be confirmed by a TAG or an RT-PCR test.
• Peak of the epidemic. The peak of contamination should be reached within ten days (i.e. around January 17, editor’s note), that’s roughly the order of magnitude in time, announces Alain Fischer chairman of the Advisory Board of the vaccine strategy invited on the LCI set, based on studies by Simon Cauchemez, member of the Security Council.
• Omicron. According to the latest bulletin from Public Health France on January 6, 74% of the tests screened showed a profile compatible with the Omicron variant in S52. The Omicron variant represented 49% of the interpretable sequences in the Flash S51 survey of December 20.
• School protocol simplified. the health protocol in schools, implemented on Monday, has already been relaxed. It was decided that the students would not have to start the course of the three tests again if a new positive Covid case appears within 7 days. In addition, from this Friday January 7, if a student in the class – welcomed on presentation of a negative test – declares himself positive (for example following a self-test carried out on D + 2 or D + 4), he it will not be necessary to restart a screening cycle for the other students. This cycle will only restart if the second confirmed case has had contact with the other students after a period of seven days following the identification of the first case.

• 8% of teachers absent. “We are around 8% absent teachers today […] You have to keep in mind that in France today we are passing this milestone by having the maximum number of open classes“, describes Jean-Michel Blanquer, Minister of National Education interviewed this Friday, January 7 on CNEWS.
• FFP2 masks. The High Council of Public Health has been seized and must decide on the generalization of FFP2 masks, in particular for teachers. For now, teachers are being distributed surgical masks and no longer fabric masks as was the case until then.

• End of quarantine for travelers from South Africa. France lifts the 10-day isolation for vaccinated travelers (full scheme) arriving from South Africa on Thursday, according to a published decree. South Africa is no longer on the “scarlet red” list of countries most at risk but “red”.
• Elimination of the 15 minute delay after the booster dose. In a letter of January 5, the Directorate General of Health informs that, in accordance with the endorsement given by the Vaccine Strategy Orientation Council (COSV), the 15-minute monitoring period for certain audiences who have just received a booster dose may be waived. “The risk that people who did not have an allergic reaction during their primary vaccination do during their booster dose is extremely low. This new recommendation comes into force as of January 5, 2022 and will make it possible to streamline the organization of vaccination centers as part of the recall campaign. “
• Shortening the deadline for immunizing children. The DGS also indicated on January 5 that the deadline “can vary from 18 to 24 days between the first and the second dose” in children 5 to 11 years old. In its opinion of January 4, 2022, the COSV recalls that the interval of 21 days is optimal. However, he estimates that a latitude of plus or minus 3 days “does not compromise the safety or the efficacy of the vaccine” underlines the DGS.
• Adoption of the vaccination pass. The vaccination pass was adopted at first reading in the National Assembly. In this regard, Jean Castex said Thursday on BFM-TV that the objective is to “to put coercion on the unvaccinated rather than on those who have civic behavior”. “The major issue is to be vaccinated because you are 20 times less likely to go to critical care.” The text will be debated in the Senate on January 10 and 11.

What are the figures for the epidemic in France?

Several indicators make it possible to monitor the evolution of the circulation of the coronavirus in France: the recording of the results of screening tests for French people, their vaccination, their visits to the Emergency Department due to Covid, their hospitalizations as well.

What are the latest measures taken by the government?

Following the Health Defense Council of December 27, 2021, the Prime Minister Jean Castex and the Minister of Health Olivier Véran spoke at a press conference to announce new measures:

• The deadline for eligibility for the vaccine booster against Covid-19 has been reduced to three months in accordance withopinion of the High Authority for Health (HAS) . It is now enough 3 months after a 2^e injection or after having had the Covid to be able to benefit from a booster dose.

• The rules for isolation of positive cases and contact cases have evolved.
• the teleworking is mandatory (when possible) for all employees at the rate of three days minimum per week and four days when possible. It will be the same for civil servants.
• Since January 3, 2022 and for 3 weeks, the gauges have been restored for major events: 2,000 people indoors, 5,000 people outdoors. Standing concerts are prohibited. In cafes and bars, drinking while standing is prohibited. In certain places such as cinemas, theaters, sports facilities, public transport (including long distance), the consumption of drinks and food is also prohibited.
• Closed nightclubs until the end of January. They had been prohibited from welcoming the public since December 10 and were to reopen on January 6, 2022. Finally, they are required to remain closed for three additional weeks. This ban applies until the same date to dance activities in establishments open to the public, such as restaurants or bars.
• Lwearing the mask, already compulsory indoors in all establishments open to the public, will be extended to certain town centers by the prefects in conjunction with the mayors. It is also now mandatory from the age of 6 in public places.
• State of emergency in overseas territories: a state of emergency has been declared in Guadeloupe, Guyana, Mayotte, Saint-Martin and Saint-Barthélémy.

What are the rules for teleworking?

The national protocol to ensure the health and safety of company employees in the face of the Covid-19 epidemic was updated on December 30, 2021 to take into account the resumption of the epidemic. The main developments of this new version relate to strict compliance with barrier gestures and telework. According to new protocol applicable “employers set from January 3 and for a period of three weeks, a minimum number of three days of teleworking per week, for positions which allow it. When the work organization and the situation of the employees allow it, this number can be extended to four days a week“. In the office, each employee must be able to have a space allowing them to respect the rule of physical distancing of at least one meter in relation to any other person (eg other employee, client, user, service provider, etc.) associated with wearing the mask. Audio or videoconference meetings should be preferred.

What do the epidemic tracking maps show?