While France is recording a clear increase in contamination, Dominique Costagliola, epidemiologist, recalled, on Saturday on Europe 1, the need to apply barrier gestures.

Barrier gestures whose effectiveness has been proven and which represent the only way to control the Covid-19 epidemic in our country.

INTERVIEW

"I am not sure that we can speak of a second wave, what is certain is that there is a significant circulation of the virus", affirms Dominique Costagliola, epidemiologist, invited on Saturday from Europe 1. Research director at Inserm and member of the Academy of Sciences, the latter recalled that barrier gestures were the most effective way to contain the epidemic and avoid a second wave.

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The bad example of the mask, whose effectiveness is well and truly proven

Keep your distance, wash your hands regularly, wear the mask inside ... "How do you get that into people's heads?", Asks the researcher, who believes that it is important to succeed in making people understand to everyone that these are effective measures.

The epidemiologist understands why this can be complicated, and takes the example of the mask that suffered from disastrous communication during the crisis causing anger and skepticism.

"Communication on the whole crisis did not allow people to understand why it was effective since it was said for a whole period that it was not".

However, Dominique Costagliola wishes to rectify the situation and justify this trampling.

"We were based on data concerning the flu. However, with the flu, we are not infectious for long before having symptoms, that's what makes the difference", explains the researcher, adding that the studies on the various coronaviruses (SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV, SARS-CoV2 alias Covid-19) have shown that wearing a mask is an effective measure.

"Often, if something is not effective, many doctors consider that it does not work. But if it already works at 80%, it reduces the risk!", She continues.

"You have to be absolutely convinced that this is something that will help prevent us from going into a situation more complicated than the one we are currently experiencing".

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"In an infectious disease, you don't get by on your own"

If she recalls the importance of adopting barrier gestures at all costs, Dominique Costagliola insists on the need to be enduring in their application.

"The cases diagnosed today are people who were infected 7 to 10 days ago," she explains.

"So when we take a new measure, we must wait for this period to measure any possible effect."

Indeed, on his site, the Minister of Health recalls that the incubation period (time between contamination and the appearance of the first symptoms) of Covid-19 is "from 3 to 5 days in general, but can be extend up to 14 days ".

During this period, the subject may be contagious.

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"The best that can happen to us is not to make the situation worse," continues the epidemiologist who says he hopes to see us control the situation in its current state before it escapes us.

For this, each of us has an up-to-date role, she insists.

"In an infectious disease, we do not cope alone. People who do not respect barrier gestures are the weak link and prevent the control of the epidemic throughout the country."