The Minister of Health Olivier Véran unveiled the planned changes concerning the isolation rules in the columns of the JDD, this Sunday, January 2.
During these end-of-year celebrations, the number of positive Covid-19 cases continues to increase. On January 1, a record figure was identified: nearly 220,000 new cases according to Public Health France. To try to stop the bleeding, new isolation measures will be put in place from Monday, January 3. Exclusively in the columns of JDD, the Minister of Health Olivier Véran unveiled the planned adjustments. By having a complete vaccination schedule, contact cases will be able to continue to come out while going for regular testing or performing self-tests every other day. On the other hand, isolation will be compulsory for all unvaccinated people or people who have not had their booster dose.
“By providing proof of your first screening at D0 at the pharmacy, you will receive all the self-tests necessary for your follow-up free of charge”, clarified Olivier Véran. After Christmas and family gatherings, the New Year is also about to have dire consequences. But to simplify the situation, Olivier Véran affirmed that the new isolation rules for positive cases will not be stricter, on the contrary. From now on, they will be the same for everyone, regardless of the contaminating variant. “Positive people whose vaccination schedule is complete will have to isolate themselves for seven days”, he announced before adding: “This isolation can be lifted after five days in the event of a negative antigen or PCR test”. However, this rule only applies to people with a complete vaccination schedule.
Change in delay for third dose
For the unvaccinated, isolation should last ten days “with a possible exit after seven days under the same conditions”. Obviously, it is imperative that the infected person wait 48 hours after the last symptoms to apply the rule. But why simplify the isolation rules despite the record epidemic peak? According to a note from the ministry relayed by our colleagues from JDD, the Omicron variant would be the explanation: “The first virological data available for Omicron show a shorter incubation time of the variant than for the previous variants”.
Measures have also evolved concerning the deadline for booster doses. Until now, the health pass corresponding to two doses expired on January 15 for those under 65 years of age. But the rule of seven months between the second and the third dose has just been changed according to the Minister of Health. “It will take four months (and no longer seven) after his second dose to have a complete vaccination schedule. And I would point out that, in this course, an infection will always be equivalent to an injection”, he explained. But don’t panic, the government has left a certain period of time to have an appointment. This new rule will be in place from February 15.