“I’m going to cook a dinner and open a bottle, but just for me”: they spend New Years Eve “covidae”


TESTIMONIALS – An early dinner and bedtime: Most people in Covid-19 solitary confinement are preparing for a lonely or almost lonely December 31st. Others venture to organize evenings “between covids”.

The family Christmas meal had turned into a cluster and Clément, a young logistics engineer, succumbed to the virus he had managed to dodge in almost two years of the pandemic. After a PCR test on December 28, he was positive. And therefore forced to give up his New Year’s Eve project, yet in a relatively small circle. He who was to do the famous count with a dozen friends will finally wait until midnight alone at home. “I’m going to cook a nice dinner anyway. Anyway, I’ll take a look at what’s left in the fridge. And I’ll open a bottle, but just for me», Details the Parisian.

According to the Minister of Health Olivier Véran, who was heard in the Assembly in the middle of the week, more than a million French people are currently positive for the coronavirus, and 10% of the population in total who would be contact cases. Assuming that health and isolation measures are duly applied, so many people are locked in their homes for December 31.

Say happy new year, and go to bed

Léna, 19 years old and positive for the Covid just like her mother and her big brother, is preparing for a New Years Eve party for three. And prefers to see the glass half full. “This is the first time that I will spend December 31 with them», She explains. “Usually I meet up with friends“. Out of the question to let go to spend a sad evening. She made chocolate truffles. “And then there is smoked salmon left. It will be a little festive, what!

Gabrielle, who graduated with a master’s degree in economics, has already had to give up the Christmas festivities since she was detected positive just before December 25. Now, she can officially come out of her period of isolation. But she does it in small steps. She and her partner, with whom she lives and who also contracted the coronavirus, have planned a dinner for four. They will simply receive a couple of friends, since they are still stunned by the disease. “We’re going to have a raclette. In my opinion, we’ll wait until midnight, say Happy New Year, and go to bed», Laughs the young woman, with a hint of disappointment. “I wouldn’t have been against an evening with a night out in a bar or club. Last year, we had already had a New Year in a small group … But hey. We must believe that it will not be for this time“.

This New Year still brought to the ground by the Covid, like the last nail in the box of a year 2021 which has not kept its promises to end the crisis, that is all that Deborah *, a 24-year-old lawyer, tries to avoid. She, who has been positive for Covid for ten days, will take a test with her boyfriend again just before the laboratories close. Because she refuses to give up on her plans.

I already did a test this morning, she explains. He was positive. But I have the impression of living hour by hour. Even if the new test I take tonight is positive, I will go to the partyShe says. His friends, who do not have the Covid but who are all already in contact, are aware. The contract: Deborah will have to keep her mask on throughout the evening and bring her own food to limit the risk of contamination. She, who was born in just before Christmas and could not celebrate her birthday due to the restrictions, can no longer bear to deprive herself. “We can’t celebrate anything anymore, she sighs. Now my only hope is that 2022 will be a better year. At the same time, I find it hard to see how it could be worse.

SEE ALSO – Covid-19: these Parisians tell how they plan to spend New Year’s Eve

Everyone is affected

At the time of the assessment of the year 2021, disappointment also points in the voice of Sacha and Lolyta, twin sisters of 21 years and students. “We barely got a taste of student life at the start of the school year in September, and now it’s being taken away from us againLolyta sighs. They, like their father, have the Covid on the evening of December 31. He will spend the evening with friends – also positive. The twins will for their part join their uncle and aunt … also positive. “Everyone is affected at the moment, even us, while we have been going out less than before in recent weeks», Says Sacha.

Despite the risks of co-infections, which hover over people who have the idea of ​​organizing parties “between covids»Fabien *, salesman in the textile sector in Lyon, refuses to spend the evening alone at home. The coronavirus-positive people around him quickly got in touch to organize a special evening. “A positive friend will even come with her boyfriend who is negative for the virus. But since he is seeing her, he is convinced that he will catch her one way or another.», Explains Fabien. “But we are still going to avoid kissing and airing“, He hastens to add.

* First name changed



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