Covid-19: who should (and who should not) be tested, here are the new rules

By Léa Giandomenico Posted onNewsSee my news

Interviewed on January 2 in the Journal du Dimanche, Olivier Véran announced new isolation measures for people positive for Covid-19 and for contact cases. Seven days of isolation are now required for positive cases (instead of the 10 days beforehand) and no more mandatory quarantine for contact cases benefiting from a complete vaccination schedule.

But while it has become very complicated to find a niche to be tested, given the explosion in the number of positive cases and contact cases, and the congestion of the system, should we continue to be tested? regularly ? We respond.

Read also

Why so many tests?

The government recommends “being tested as a priority in the event of signs of the disease or if one is identified as a contact person at risk” to allow “laboratories to focus on priority people“.

However, many people are rushing to the screening test slots, while the Omicron variant has become the majority since December 31, 2021 and 219,126 new cases were recorded on January 1, 2022.

Solicited by actu.fr, the High Authority for Health (HAS) recalls that the system is congested at the moment “in view of the very high contagiousness of the Omicron variant and the number of positive cases”.

In case of symptoms, which test should be given priority?

According to the Ministry of Health website, "it is better to favor an antigen test if the symptoms appeared less than 4 days ago, and a PCR test if they appeared more than seven days ago".

For the HAS, “carrying out antigen tests is still recommended, even if many people seek to be tested, and the PCR test remains the reference test”.

Do you have to take another test if you are positive?

Many people identified as positive cases continue to be tested in the week following their contamination, in particular to be able to return to work. Others make an appointment for a PCR test because they found out they were positive through an antigen test at a pharmacy.

However, it would be recommended to carry out a PCR test to know its variant, and to be counted in the number of official cases. What is it really ? Should we stop carrying out antigenic tests to avoid clogging the system?

“Any positive antigenic test must be confirmed by a PCR test, in particular to allow the detection of a possible variant. This contributes to the surveillance put in place to analyze the circulation of the virus and the detection of a possible mutation of the virus”, indicated the government on its site.

Thus, the minister recommends redoing a test after five days of isolation in order to be able to return to work.

I am in contact, should I get tested?

I am a contact case: should I continue to be tested regularly to find out if I have contracted the virus?

“If you have a complete vaccination schedule, you can continue your activities provided you do regular tests, according to Olivier Véran. The first, a PCR or an antigen, on D0, the day you learn that you are a contact case. Then, you will have to carry out a self-test on D+2 and D+4. By providing proof of your first screening on D0 in the pharmacy, you will receive all the self-tests necessary for your follow-up free of charge. »

No need to isolate yourself when you are a contact case, but still need follow-up through PCR, antigenic tests, or self-tests.

Should we continue to do self-tests?

In an opinion issued on December 30, 2021, the HAS recommends “the extension of the use of self-tests in case-contact persons”, taking into account in particular “a very sustained increase in viral circulation subjecting the devices to their limits. screening and contact tracing”.

Indeed, the HAS recalls that the capacities for carrying out virological tests on the part of authorized professionals “will not be sufficient to cover all the detection needs in contact persons”.

Was this article helpful to you? Note that you can follow Actu in the My Actu space. In one click, after registration, you will find all the news of your favorite cities and brands.

Share