Once again, Christmas was not very warm due to the health crisis. “We did not make kisses and hugs. We just greeted each other from afar,” laments Valérie. The mother, surrounded by her daughters and her husband, relies only on tests to avoid transmitting the virus during the holiday season.
Masks left in the bags
“This morning, we were re-tested with self-tests, since it was Sunday and pharmacies were closed. To be sure not to be positive and not to infect anyone, we would like to be tested in a pharmacy before New Years Day. “
But then why, despite the social distancing and negative guests, this rush for testing? Passers-by confess, the mask remained in the bags during this famous evening which is replayed this week after Christmas.
Self-tests are popular
“At the moment, we are still surrounded by contacts or positive people. There is a bit of an external pressure to test ourselves,” admits Mathieu, who will be spending the New Year with his parents. For its part, the self-test appears to be the trend for the end of the year. Mathieu also got hold of it. “It’s not very complicated to do. People are now used to it, I find they are less afraid of the cotton swab.”
An air of deja vu
These tests will undoubtedly be the essential guests of the New Year. An air of deja vu, according to infectious disease specialist Benjamin Davido. “Remember, last year at the same time, the French who were not vaccinated played the screening game and, very significantly, there had been an increase in cases over that same period.” Because winter is very conducive to “the acceleration of the waves”, adds the scientist.
“It is also our way of life, that is to say the fact of getting together, of vacations, the fact of living indoors, which are accelerators in the face of a virus which, for its part, is always present and does not take of rest and does not take vacations “, concludes Benjamin Davido.