If there is no longer a firm protocol for Covid contact cases, there are still recommendations set by the government.
After being in contact with a person positive for coronavirusyou may have been contaminated by Sars-Cov-2 and are therefore considered “contact case“. Please note that in the case of Covid-19, a person is considered contagious from 48 hours before symptoms appear.
By definition, a contact case is a person who has been in contact with a positive case of Covid-19 in the absence of effective protective measures, whatever the duration.
► Are considered effective protective measures :
- Physical separation isolating the contact person from the confirmed or probable case by creating two independent spaces (window, Hygiaphone®);
- Surgical mask, or FFP2 mask, or in “general public filtration greater than 90%” fabric (corresponding to category 1 (AFNOR)), worn by the confirmed or probable case OR the contact person.
According to updated government instructions, if you have been in contact with a person positive for Covid-19 in the 48 hours before the start of their symptoms or after, it is recommended toapply barrier gesturesparticularly in the presence of vulnerable people:
- Monitor the appearance of symptoms suggestive of Covid-19
- Wear a surgical mask in the presence of other people;
- Ventilate or air the premises;
- Perform hand hygiene very regularly, with water/soap or hydro-alcoholic friction;
- As soon as the first symptoms appear, inform and avoid close contact with vulnerable people, and respect all of the above measures.
There is no longer any isolation for contact persons, whether they are vaccinated or not vaccinated against Covid.
When to take a test if you are in contact?
The testing protocol for contact cases has been lifted since February 1, 2023. There is therefore no longer a recommended test. If you want to test yourself to be sure, you can go to the laboratory, pharmacy or buy a self-test (also in pharmacies).
Wearing a mask is always recommended for contact cases. The government recommends wearing it for a week.
There is no no more testing and isolation protocol for contact cases. If you have had Covid and are then in contact with a positive person, you must apply barrier gestures and avoid vulnerable people. If symptoms suggestive of Covid occur, you can take a test and/or go to the doctor.
The testing protocol for contact cases is lifted from February 1, 2023. It there is therefore no longer any need to test the child on D+2. However, a child in contact must continue to apply barrier gestures. If you have symptoms suggestive of Covid, consult your doctor.
As with any acute respiratory infection disease, it remains strongly recommended that people who have been exposed to a contagious person and likely to develop the disease, respect barrier gestures andavoid contact with vulnerable people.
Contact cases are no longer required to isolate and test themselves (from February 1, 2023). We can therefore be in contact and go to work. However, it is recommended to continue to apply barrier gestures, including wearing a mask for a week.
It is always recommended to apply barrier gestures. To avoid being contaminated by a person who lives under the same roof:
Don’t share space
- invite her to stay, if possible, in a separate room with the door closed;
- do not share your bed;
- do not share your daily objects (towels, soap, cutlery, plates, telephone, etc.);
- don’t eat meals with her.
Clean up your home
- ventilate for at least 10 minutes several times a day;
- choose household utensils that do not disperse dust, such as a sponge or mop (a vacuum cleaner should be avoided);
- invite the positive person to systematically clean the surfaces they touch (door handles, bathroom furniture, toilets, floors, etc., with your usual product, then with a product containing bleach or 70° alcohol, then rinse); wash your sheets and towels at 60°C for at least 30 minutes; throw anything that may be contaminated into a separate trash bag, which she will put in a second trash bag once closed.
If you need to have contacts or share items
- that everyone washes their hands before and after use;
- wear a mask;
- stay more than 2 meters away;
- limit your discussions to less than 15 minutes.
