It's a rule change that could quickly create a mess.
Anyone "in contact" with another, tested positive for the new variant of the coronavirus, Omicron, will have to be isolated even if they are vaccinated, the health ministry said on Saturday.
"Any contact at risk of a possible case or of a confirmed case of the B1.1.529 variant, regardless of their vaccination status, must be considered as
high-risk contact
and must therefore be placed in quarantine", according to the text sent. to health establishments and professionals.
Currently in France, where no confirmed case of this variant has yet been announced, if a person is in contact with a person infected with the coronavirus, they should only isolate themselves for seven days if they are not vaccinated or if her vaccination schedule is incomplete and / or she is immunocompromised, according to Health Insurance.
Concern was growing in Europe on Saturday in the face of this new variant of the coronavirus, with the announcement on Friday of a confirmed case in Belgium, followed by two cases made public on Saturday in the United Kingdom.
Two cases were confirmed later in the day in Germany.
In the Netherlands 61 passengers who arrived on Friday on two flights from South Africa tested positive for Covid-19.