COVID-19 FRANCE. Every 3 months, the health authorities observe an epidemic rebound. This is in particular due to the decline in the immunity of the French. To minimize the magnitude of the waves of Covid, the Covars has issued 5 recommendations for the general public.
[Mis à jour le 7 avril 2023 à 10h49] The Covid epidemic is still circulating in France in April 2023: Public health France reports in its bulletin of April 5, 2023 ofan increase in positivity rate (while remaining at low levels) as well as indicators of use of care in town, but in a less marked than the previous week. Visits to the emergency room are stable, while new hospitalizations are decreasing. The epidemic remains relatively weak compared to what we have already known since Omicron. “The COVID period is currently in an endemo-epidemic phase and after large “destructive” waves we are seeing today rebounds of lower amplitude with less violent health impact“, says the Health Risk Monitoring and Anticipation Committee (COVARS) in a document dated March 31, 2023. continue to respect barrier gestureseven if certain health rules ended in the first quarter of 2023, in particular thesystematic isolation for people who have tested positive for Covid-19 and the completion of a screening test for asymptomatic contact persons.
5 new anti-Covid recommendations (April 2023)
To limit the magnitude of the epidemic waves, the Covars issued 5 recommendations:
► People at risk of severe form and those around them must continue to wear the maskespecially in closed or densely populated places and that they get tested quickly in case of symptoms
► Must be vaccinated in the spring: people over the age of 80, immunocompromised people and people at very high risk of serious illness (respecting a delay of at least six months since the last dose or infection).
► To all: Vaccination remains appropriate; not too late for a primary vaccination, a reminder in the spring of 2023 for people at high risk of severe form and infants under 6 months, a booster in the fall of 2023 for people at risk of severe form (respecting a period of at least six months since the last dose or infection).
► Even in the absence of criteria of frailty and diagnostic confirmation by a test (generally, any viral respiratory infection is transmissible by the same routes), the presence of respiratory symptoms must be wear a mask indoors in the presence of othersespecially when the premises are poorly ventilated.
► Indoor air quality can be significantly improved by opening the windows at least 5 to 10 minutes per hour in private homes, offices, collective catering facilities, etc.
What situation should we expect in France in 2023?
In April 2023, the Covid virus is still circulating at a rate and frequency that show that it has not become a “seasonal respiratory virus” like any other (influenza virus, bronchiolitis virus, etc.), underlines the Covars. Regular waves follow one another: especially in this spring of 2023 when a 10th wave was observed. However, “this epidemic rebound is not correlated with the emergence of a new variantwe are still under the Omicron era with a non-significant subvariant replacement (BQ.1 by XBB) in terms of transmissibility or immune escape“. In other words, the decline in the immunity of the population (due to a recall of a “too” old vaccine) leads to rebounds approximately every 3 months relatively regardless of the environmental conditions influencing the seasonal transmission of respiratory viruses (which overall decreases by 40% in the reproduction rate).
What is the dominant variant in France in April 2023?
As of April 5, 2023, in mainland France, the recombinant XBB (all sublineages included) is always the majority Omicron sub-lineage. Its recombinant XBB.1.5 seems to be stabilizing with 59% of the sequences during the Flash 11 and 10 BA.5 surveys and its sublineages continued to decrease (12% for Flash S11 vs 17% for Flash 10)
What are the Covid measures that persist in 2023?
► Up-to-date vaccination against COVID-19, in particular by a booster dose with a bivalent vaccine (against the initial strain and the Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2) for eligible first-timers, as well as against influenza viruses
► The wearing a mask recommended in the presence of vulnerable people, in the event of promiscuity in closed spaces such as public transport
► The maintenance of barrier gestures : regular hand washing, ventilation of closed places
What are the current measures regarding Covid isolation?
Since February 1, 2023, people who test positive for Covid-19 are no longer required to isolate themselves, announced the Ministry of Health in a January 28, 2023 statement. Nonetheless, “as with any illness with an acute respiratory infection, it remains strongly recommended for people who test positive for Covid-19, as well as people who have been exposed to a contagious person and are likely to develop the disease, to respect barrier gesturesof get tested and D’avoid contact with fragile people“, could we read on the press release.
What are the current measures regarding contact cases?
Since February 1, 2023, the realization of a screening test on the second day of notification of contact status for asymptomatic contact persons no longer required. On the other hand, symptomatic people continue to have to be tested.
What are the current measures regarding the wearing of the mask?
Wearing a mask is no longer compulsory anywhere. But given the circulation of several respiratory viruses (Covid-19, bronchitis virus, influenza), adherence to barrier gestures, including wearing a maskis still highly recommended in April 2023. Above all:
- in closed and crowded places and public transport (metro, train, bus, plane, etc.);
- in large gatherings, including outdoors, for people who are fragile due to their age or their pathologies;
- in the presence of elderly, immunocompromised or chronically ill people;
- for fragile people (elderly or immunocompromised…).
- in the event of symptoms suggestive of Covid
What are the Covid measures at the hospital in 2023?
With the end of the state of health emergency in France on July 31, 2022, the health pass is no longer required at the entrance to hospitals. Wearing a mask either, in theory, except for hospitals that want it and in all establishments AP-HP (Paris Hospitals). Thus, in 2023:
► Wearing a mask remains compulsory inside buildings for patients leaving their room in hospital, day hospital, consultation also for visitors, companions and patient workers (ex-paramedics).
► Wearing a mask remains compulsory for hospital staff in places where patients are. (conventional hospitalization, consultation, day hospital, circulation corridors).
Wearing a mask no longer required in the offices, meeting rooms, communication rooms, rest rooms, as well as in departments and places not open to patients (laboratories, nurseries, etc.)
► Wearing a mask is compulsory, regardless of location, for hospital staff who present with symptoms suggestive of ENT or respiratory infection.
What are the measures for the Covid vaccine recall?
There High Authority for Health (HAS) recommends a second booster dose:
- For people over 60, for pregnant women, for adults at risk of severe form and those around them: from 6 months after the last booster.
- For people over 80, residents of nursing homes and USLDs and immunocompromised people: from 3 months after the last reminder or the last infection.
This second booster dose is also open to all French people who wish it. Bivalent vaccines, targeted on the Omicron variant, have been favored for boosters since October 3, 2022.
What are the measures for travel?
Since August 1, 2022, the border health control system has been lifted, in accordance with the law putting an end to the exceptional regimes created to fight against the epidemic linked to covid-19. Travelers don’t have no more formalities to complete before their arrival in France, in mainland France and overseas, and the presentation of the health pass can no longer be required, regardless of the country or zone of origin. Likewise, no more justification of the reason for a trip departing from France, in mainland France and overseas, no certificate of leaving the territory is required by the French authorities to go to another country.
Faced with the epidemic situation in China, the french government has implemented the following measures:
- All passengers coming from China, by direct flight or with a stopover, and bound for French territory must present, before boarding, the negative PCR or antigen test result less than 48 hours old.
- Wearing a mask is made compulsory on planes from China.
- Upon arrival on French territory, random PCR tests can also be performed.
France also recommends that travelers who plan to visit China, especially fragile and immunocompromised people, consider a postponement of their trip, in the absence of an essential reason. It is recommended that travelers who cannot postpone their trip have a complete and up-to-date vaccination schedule and respect the barrier gestures.
KEY DATES 2022-2023
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Sources:
Covid-19: International travel, Ministry of the Interior.
MyAdviceCovid.Gov
Gouvernement.fr