“We can strengthen the barrier measures” against Omicron, pleads Professor Yves Buisson

The virologist Christian Bréchot and the epidemiologist Yves Buisson were invited to LCI this Monday, December 27 to discuss the runaway of new contaminations in the midst of the end-of-year festivities. Yves Buisson, who is also a member of the Academy of Medicine, returned to the possible new measures taken by the executive on Monday to curb the circulation of the Omicron variant. According to our information, a curfew could be instituted for the night of December 31 and the duration of isolation of contact cases reduced to avoid “to disorganize” society, as feared by the Scientific Council.

“It is certain that if we strictly apply these isolation rules, we will immobilize a large part of the country. There is a political choice to be applied given the scientific data”, in turn estimated Yves Buisson, while the duration of the isolation can go up to 17 days in the event of cohabitation with the patient of the Covid.

The epidemiologist took the opportunity to recall the importance of barrier gestures, little by little abandoned by the French as they were vaccinated. “We can very probably strengthen the barrier measures, which have been relaxed for several months”, regretted Yves Buisson, taking a concrete example: “Wearing a mask is completely forgotten in many places. And where it is applied, in public transport, it is poorly applied. Under the nose, it is absolutely useless. Especially since this Omicron variant affects upper airways. So if you have your nose uncovered, you share it with everyone around you. look only under a mask “.

With 68,200 new patients diagnosed every day on average, the Omicron variant is creating an epidemic recovery even though the fifth wave is not over. Measures are therefore expected by the government this late Monday afternoon, after a health defense council organized by videoconference.