Although end-of-year celebrations rhyme with promiscuity, health authorities ask for vigilance. A few hours before the start of the Christmas festivities, Public Health France reminded this Friday, December 22, that “the systematic adoption of barrier gestures by everyone is essential.”
“A significant proportion of French people have not adopted barrier gestures, although they are effective in combating winter viruses,” laments the institution in a statement published on its site.
“Together, let’s mobilize again”
It recommends wearing a mask as soon as symptoms appear in crowded places and in the presence of vulnerable people, washing your hands frequently, regularly ventilating the house, sneezing into your elbow or even using a disposable tissue. Recommendations that have not changed since the beginning of the Covid-19 health crisis, but that were made during the holidays, an important time for mixing the population.
“The end of the year is ideal for family and friendly gatherings that expose different generations to winter viruses. Let us mobilize together around barrier gestures,” says Dr. Caroline Semaille, Director General of Public Health of France, in this statement from press.
Public Health France also asks people at risk to protect themselves “by resorting to vaccination” against seasonal flu and Covid-19.
do several tests
“When the result is negative at the onset of symptoms, it is better to repeat the test within three or four days,” adds Marie-Andrée Weiss, a pharmacist from the city of Ebersheim (Bas Rhine), interviewed by BFMTV. She also recommends “refraining” from attending any family gathering in case of contagion “if there are fragile people.”
A warning that comes at a time when France is plagued by different viruses that are actively circulating in the country. Covid-19 continues to register a significant wave, according to the December 20 report by Public Health France, but “shows signs of stabilization.” Therefore, consultations in the city due to Covid have stopped increasing. However, in the hospital, emergency visits related to the disease “have still seen their percentage increase slightly,” health authorities add.
The seasonal flu epidemic spread in mid-December in France and spread throughout the east of the metropolis, the public health agency announced on Wednesday. Finally, bronchiolitis is still very present, even if the virus has passed a peak.
Source: BFM TV
