How to avoid a third wave in January?
With self-containment for a week before the holidays, and tests before Christmas Eve, ensures the scientific council.
In a "scientific background note" published Monday, scientists recall that it is necessary to "limit family and friendly meetings as much as possible, especially during this period of the end of the year, by discussing the reasons with those around them" .
For those who will still spend the holidays with the family, the best is to confine themselves preventively: take leave or telework a week before December 24 or 31, they advise.
A tolerance for school absences Thursday and Friday
For schoolchildren and high school students, the Council calls for strengthening barrier gestures in this last week before the holidays, to avoid gatherings linked to festivals in schools.
A "tolerance" will be applied Thursday and Friday for the absences of students who self-confine before the holidays, according to the opinion of the scientific council, said the office of the Minister of National Education, Jean-Michel Blanquer.
A note will be sent to the rectors on Tuesday.
Parents must, however, notify schools.
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This self-containment is all the more important for those who plan to meet the elderly, the most vulnerable to the virus, during the holidays, underlines the Scientific Council, noting that it is not possible to "limit family meetings " in this period.
Nursing home residents who leave the facility for a few hours or days must be tested by PCR on their return, they add.
Demonstrate "citizen spirit" for the tests
In a period conducive to relaxation, scientists call to resort to tests if necessary on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday before Christmas and New Year's Eve. But without giving in to the feeling of "false security": the tests do not allow 100% rule out infection and barrier procedures must continue to be observed.
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In detail, a symptomatic person in the week preceding Christmas or New Year's Day should be tested and self-isolate without waiting for the result.
Without symptoms, you can be tested if you have taken a risk (multiple contacts or with a positive case).
Without symptoms or risk taking during the week, it is better to abstain so as not to saturate the testing system: "it is not a question of limiting access to the test, but of showing a
civic spirit
" , specifies the Scientific Council.