The protocol has changed a lot since the start of the health crisis. Franceinfo explains what to do if you develop symptoms and test positive for Covid-19.
Covid-19 is back this fall. Despite the vagueness around the circulation of the virus, a trend is emerging with an increasing number of cases. The new vaccination campaign against the virus will begin on October 2, two weeks before the scheduled date. The Minister of Health mentioned “a current context of more marked circulation of the virus”.
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But if the epidemic starts to rise again, this does not mean a return to old protocols. But then, what to do in the event of a positive test? Should you isolate yourself? Can we continue to work? What should I do as a contact case? Franceinfo offers you an update on the rules to follow to date.
Avoid people at risk and carry out a screening test
From the first symptoms suggesting a Covid-19 infection, it is firstly strongly recommended to avoid contact with fragile people or people at risk of developing a serious form (infants, pregnant women, elderly people or carriers of certain diseases). chronic or suffering from obesity). Symptoms can be combined or isolated. They sometimes appear suddenly and remain numerous:
– Fever or feeling feverish
– Respiratory signs: cough, sore throat, shortness of breath or feeling of tightness in the chest
– Headaches, body aches, unusual fatigue
– Sudden loss of smell (without nasal obstruction), complete disappearance of taste
– Diarrhea
You can then carry out a self-test, antigen or RT-PCR type test, without the need for a prescription. On the other hand, they are no longer 100% covered by health insurance since 1er March 2023, and this without distinction between the vaccinated and the unvaccinated. Certain people, in particular minors or people aged 65 and over, retain 100% coverage. Otherwise, a remainder of 30 to 40% must be paid but complementary health insurance generally takes over. Self-tests available in pharmacies for around 3.50 euros are not reimbursed.
Inform those around you and call your doctor
If your test is positive, Health Insurance recommends notifying your loved ones (family, friends, colleagues), as well as all people you come across within 48 hours before symptoms appear or within seven days before the positive test. in the absence of symptoms.
It is then advisable to contact your GP or, in the event of absence, a local doctor but you should not go to your office or to the hospital emergency room. He will assess the severity of the disease during a home or video consultation. If you are a person considered at risk, and therefore likely to develop a serious form of Covid-19, the doctor or healthcare professional can prescribe an antiviral treatment to reduce the risk of hospitalization: Paxlovid.
If you test negative, the Ministry of Health recommends “remain cautious and continue to rigorously apply barrier gestures and other universal respiratory hygiene measures for 6 to 8 days from the appearance of symptoms”. For contact cases, it is no longer obligatory to carry out a screening test two days after being informed by the infected person. But it remains recommended to respect barrier gestures, to wear a mask, to avoid contact with vulnerable people and to carry out a screening test.
Isolation is no longer compulsory
Since February 1, 2023, systematic isolation for seven days is no longer mandatory in the event of a positive test. Also note that Health Insurance no longer contacts people who test positive as part of contact tracing. However, it is recommended to self-isolate, underlines the service-public site.
Health Insurance strongly recommends avoiding contact with vulnerable people and adopting simple barrier gestures such as washing your hands regularly, wearing a surgical or FFP2 type protective mask, limiting contact with others as much as possible. and ventilate each room as often as possible (10 minutes every hour).
Promote teleworking
A positive test for Covid-19 no longer allows you to benefit from daily allowances and exceptional work leave. It is therefore no longer possible to request a Covid work stoppage without a waiting day on ameli.fr. Only your doctor can prescribe you sick leave (if your state of health does not allow you to work), reminds Health Insurance. You have 48 hours to send the notice to your health insurance fund and, if you are an employee, to your employer, as with any work stoppage.
Teleworking is no longer compulsory but is still recommended in the event of a positive Covid-19 test. However, your employer cannot force you not to come to work. He would be guilty of discrimination by prohibiting you from coming to work because of your state of health.