Starting Monday, coronavirus-related confinement measures will ease. Fully vaccinated individuals will self-isolate for seven days, irrespective of the variant. This period may conclude after five days with a negative rapid antigen or PCR test, provided symptoms cease for 48 hours. The government made this announcement Sunday.
Furthermore, fully vaccinated close contacts will no longer need to quarantine, Health Minister Olivier Véran revealed in a Sunday Newspaper interview. Conversely, unvaccinated individuals must isolate for ten days, with potential release after seven contingent on test results.
Multiple Tests Required
For close contacts with complete vaccination records, regular testing is mandated to maintain activities. An initial PCR or antigen test is necessary upon notification of contact. Subsequent self-tests are required on days two and four. Pharmacies provide complimentary self-tests with proof of the initial D0 screening, the Minister explained. Close contacts must meticulously adhere to protective measures, including mask usage indoors and outdoors, and prioritize remote work when feasible, the Health Ministry added.
Previously, positive cases necessitated a ten-day isolation, regardless of the variant. Close contacts of Omicron variant cases faced a minimum seven-day isolation, extending to seventeen days if cohabitating with an infected person. This policy adjustment addresses the Omicron variant’s rapid spread in France, aiming for a balance between infection control and socioeconomic stability. Preliminary virological data suggest a shorter Omicron incubation period, supporting reduced isolation times.
The ministry clarifies that for children under twelve who are close contacts in school settings, national education protocols apply. This involves PCR or rapid antigen testing for all classmates upon a confirmed case, with a negative result required for a return to class. Self-testing should follow on days two and four.
