Five days from Christmas Eve, the shadow of the ninth wave of Covid-19 still hangs. The Health Risk Surveillance and Anticipation Committee (Covars), which replaced the Scientific Council at the end of July, takes the lead and calls for prudence and “altruism”.
During a press conference this Monday, Brigitte Autran, president of the committee, and the virologist and member of the Covars Bruno Lina presented the opinion of the Covars on the situation linked to the coronavirus in France.
They recommend several gestures to apply with family and friends for celebrations that are as serene as possible.
It is never too late to get vaccinated. This was recalled by the health risk monitoring committee, particularly for the most vulnerable people. Vaccination is also recommended for the French who will spend New Year’s Eve with these fragile people.
The Covars, therefore, advise “protect yourself so as not to contaminate others.” Is better wear the mask regularly the days before Christmas, especially when you have to be in contact with a large number of people (public transport, shopping center, busy streets…).
Obviously, the barrier gestures should not be neglected. Wearing a mask and ventilating its interior also reduces the risk of contamination.
Take a test closer to Christmas
Closer to the day of the celebration, the day before or the same day, the Covars ask for tests, to minimize the risks and make sure that they are not a carrier of Covid-19.
With the progression of epidemics of various respiratory diseases, such as influenza and bronchiolitis, it is important to identify which virus is causing which symptoms. The Covars emphasize that each virus is potentially dangerous to fragile people.
Whether you have symptoms or not, the committee advises not to skip the self-test or the PCR test. They could make it possible to detect pre-symptomatic and asymptomatic forms of the disease a few hours before Christmas, or on the contrary to calm down.
Finally, Brigitte Autran asks to be transparent with those close to her and not to hide anything. The important thing is to know how to manage your risk, and not endanger anyone.
Towards free masks for all?
Already last year, many French had to cancel their New Year’s Eve before the outbreak of the epidemic at the end of 2021, After Christmas. During her intervention, the president of Covars also considered that the mask was “necessary”, without however asking for her obligation.
“The mask is already freely accessible to the most fragile,” he recalled, “in this period when the mask is really necessary and where it is used to combat not only Covid but other respiratory infections, we suggest that this free of charge could be extended to the entire population”.
The Covars want to work with the Ministry of Health to make the mask free and thus relaunch its use in the places most prone to contamination.
Source: BFM TV
