The emergence of the Omicron variant in Europe was game-changing and led to new measures. This Sunday January 2, 2022, interviewed by the Le Journal du Dimanche, French health minister Olivier Véran announced the end of quarantine starting from Monday January 3, 2022, for all contact case people enjoying full vaccination. The latter will yet have to strictly comply with health guidelines and "regularly take tests".
After studying the new and more contagious Omicron variant for a few weeks, as it is currently hitting the world, it seems to be indeed less dangerous and causes less severe illness. Consequently, isolation measures made as a precaution when the new variant broke out are no longer valid and therefore softened.
Yet, although they do no longer have to self-isolate, vaccinees in contact with someone sick still have to take several tests over the next days to make sure they are safe and healthy. They will always have to take a PCR or antigen test the day they find out they met someone sick. Then, they can take self-test, available free of charge in pharmacies, as a proof of the first testing at D+2 and D+4.
Health professionals have been encouraged to perform a PCR test rather than an antigenic one to people coming from Southern Africa namely from the following countries: South Africa, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia and even Zimbabwe. This is also the case for those who have been in touch with someone who travelled there.
Covid: what we know about the Omicron variant and its symptoms
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Covid: what we know about the Omicron variant and its symptoms
