The more rapid emergence of variants of the coronavirus in certain regions revives the hypothesis of localized restrictive measures.
With the Moselle in the front line, which is facing a "worrying" situation with around 100 cases per day.
While the mayor (LR) of Metz François Grosdidier has spoken in favor of a reconfinement at the local level and the advancement of the school holidays, the Minister of Health traveling to Metz this Friday did not wish to decide for the moment.
During a press point after his talks with various local elected officials, Olivier Véran announced that he was going to strengthen the testing and vaccination policy in Moselle.
"Any positive case of coronavirus will henceforth be considered in this department as suspect of a variant until proved to the contrary, that is to say that it will benefit from immediate contact tracing, from accompanied sheltering immediate isolation increased to ten days against seven, ”he detailed.
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A PCR test will also be carried out before the lifting of isolation for positive cases and a PCR test will be carried out from the first day on all possible contact cases.
At the request of local elected officials, Véran wanted to increase the number of Moderna vaccine doses in the department.
"2,000 doses of Moderna vaccines can be made available to the population, especially people aged 75 and over in the coming days."
For the other measures demanded by elected officials (local re-containment and early closure of schools on Saturday), "we will have to wait for further consultations".
"I will continue the consultation, including discussing the issue of schools with the Minister of National Education, Jean-Michel Blanquer," said Olivier Véran.