France is facing a fifth wave of the Covid-19 epidemic, pushing the government to take new measures. Follow here all the news related to the health situation in France or in the world.
6:50 p.m.
The Minister of National Education Jean-Michel Blanquer is counting on the multiplication of tests for students, a strong incentive for the vaccination of 5-11 year olds and a call to mayors to provide their schools with CO2 sensors to avoid the disorganization of school facing Covid-19.
“From this Monday, in primary school, we are strengthening our contact-tracing policy. It will go through the multiplication of tests and the participation of families in this mechanism based on accountability, ”said Mr. Blanquer in an interview with Le Parisien.
If a positive Covid-19 case is detected in a classroom, all students will have to take three tests in four days. The first negative test will allow them to come back to class. “What changes is that from now on, when the family takes the first test, they will receive two free self-tests in the pharmacy, so that the students can test themselves again at home on D + 2 and D + 4”, a specified the minister.
6:28 p.m.
Prime Minister Jean Castex will meet ten of his ministers on Monday at 4:00 p.m. “in order to take stock of the impact of the Omicron variant and the continuity of essential public services,” Matignon announced to AFP on Sunday.
“Hospitals, places of education, public transport, administrations, army, police stations and police stations or even companies in the energy sector” will be the sectors concerned, said this source.
The ministers of Health Olivier Véran, of the Economy Bruno Le Maire, of the Interior Gérald Darmanin, of Education Jean-Michel Blanquer, of Labor Elisabeth Borne, of the Armies Florence Parly, of the Civil Service Amélie de Montchalin, of the Ecological Transition Barbara Pompili, of Transport Jean-Baptiste Djebbari and the government spokesperson Gabriel Attal will participate in this meeting chaired by the Prime Minister.
17:39
The increase in the number of Covid-19 cases in the United States follows an “almost vertical” curve, which is not currently the case with hospitalizations, said Dr. Anthony Fauci, principal adviser to the House on Sunday. Blanche on the health crisis.
“We are in the middle of a very strong wave,” said Dr Fauci on ABC television, adding that the increase in cases, “almost vertical”, was “unprecedented”, with an average of almost 400,000 new contaminations per day.
4:45 p.m.
Thousands of people gathered in Amsterdam on Sunday to protest against the health restrictions in force in the Netherlands, where a new lockdown was imposed a week before Christmas in the face of the spread of the Omicron variant.
All non-essential shops, restaurants, bars, cinemas, museums and theaters are closed until January 14 and schools until at least January 9. Outside, only gatherings of two people are allowed, with exceptions such as funerals.
2:07 p.m.
The Argentine star of Paris SG, Lionel Messi, is one of four players in the Paris SG workforce tested positive for the coronavirus, the club announced on Sunday on the eve of a Coupe de France match in Vannes.
Messi was tested in Argentina, where he spent a week’s vacation with his family, in his hometown of Rosario. “He is in constant contact with our medical service. When it is negative, he will be able to return to France, ”coach Mauricio Pochettino said at a press conference.
13:40
Companies located in the Overseas Territories most affected by the restrictions taken to stem the health crisis in November and December will be able to benefit from aid, the government announced on Sunday. The measures concern companies in “protected sectors”, registered on the S1 and S1 bis lists, such as restaurants, travel agencies and sports halls.
10:00 a.m.
The time to take a booster dose of the Covid-19 vaccine will be reduced, from February 15, to a maximum of 4 months instead of 7 to be able to keep a valid health pass, announced the Minister of Health Olivier Véran in the JDD. The rule currently in force is that from January 15, the health pass becomes inactive after 7 months in the absence of a booster dose, often called the third dose.
9:35 am
According to Arnaud Fontanet, epidemiologist, the peak in the number of Covid-19 cases “should peak in mid-January”. He adds that “the peak hospital could take place a week later” and that “Ile-de-France will be the first affected”. Asked by the Journal du dimanche, this member of the Scientific Council said to expect “an immense logistical and organizational challenge”, while the hospital is “already very tested by 22 months of health crisis”.
8:05
CNEWS morning guest, pediatrician Robert Cohen explains that the Omicron variant “does not create more severe infections in children, but there will be more cases and that is also true in children”. According to him, installing CO2 sensors at school “is imperative”. The specialist recalls the importance of air quality in the fight against a virus whose transmission is airborne.
7h00
The isolation rules for people positive for Covid-19 will be lightened from Monday, January 3. French people with a complete vaccination schedule will have to isolate themselves for 7 days regardless of the variant, an isolation which can be lifted after 5 days in the event of a negative antigen or PCR test.
In addition, there will be no more quarantine for contact cases with a complete vaccination schedule, announced Olivier Véran in the Journal du Dimanche.
