As Brazil faces a catastrophic epidemic outbreak, neuroscientist Miguel Nicolelis warns on Europe 1 that one should not "underestimate" the "severity" of the Brazilian variant, which could "undermine the efforts" of the fight against -Covid.

However, for the moment in France, travelers coming from or leaving for Brazil follow the same protocol as other travelers coming from abroad.

"2,000 deaths, 3,000 deaths, 4,000 deaths per day. People have ended up getting used to this macabre count" laments Dr. Vasconcelos, an infectious disease specialist in São Paulo, Brazil.

Overwhelmed cemeteries, burials night and day, the number of deaths increasing ... Brazil is plagued by dozens of mutants of the Brazilian variant of Covid-19 and yet, it is increasingly difficult to convince people to stay confined.

A problem all the more important as this variant is more contagious than the first strain to arrive in the country.

And these mutations are worrying in France, even if for the moment the strain represents only 4% of the variants in the country.

From São Paulo, where the situation is particularly alarming, to Roissy Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris, Europe 1 has followed in the footsteps of this Brazilian variant.

"I'm staying at home to save my skin"

"I even think that if a study confirms that the variant is more lethal, that would do nothing to them. People are anesthetized, you understand", continues infectiologist Vasconcelos.

Anesthetized and completely lost, because there is no common policy between President Jair Bolsonaro, the governors and the mayors. 

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São Paulo, for example, has just reopened schools, an incomprehensible decision for many parents at the worst time of the pandemic.

"It is irresponsible to send them to school for the moment. The majority of intubated patients are under 40 years old", indignant this father who has been teleworking for a year with his three children.

"We used to say to ourselves 'better to stay at home'. Today, I stay at home to save my skin. I'm really scared! If I need to be hospitalized, there is no more. intensive care beds. You have to stay calm and be very patient. "

"This variant is a very serious threat to the world"

The situation is clearly overwhelming hospitals and scientists, as around 10% of the 212 million Brazilians have received at least one dose of the vaccine.

For Miguel Nicolelis, neuroscientist, former president of the anti-Covid committee in the Nordeste region, this variant could alone compromise the fight against the epidemic.

"You should be worried," he warns.

"Because from what we know, this variant is the most contagious, two and a half times more contagious than the first strain which arrived here in Brazil. This causes gigantic damage here, because it has become the dominant variant especially in young people".

Not to mention the many mutations of the variants: "The problem is that this variant is constantly mutating. We are at 17 mutations so far, that's a lot and that's what can explain why it is so. transmissible ", adds Miguel Nicolelis.

"This variant is a very serious threat to the world. I would not like to underestimate it and I would like to stress its seriousness as it could undermine the efforts of Europe, the United States and Asia to contain this pandemic. ".

No specific control at French airports yet

In France precisely, there is cause for concern because the situation could become worrying if nothing is done to prevent these variants from arriving on the territory, like Chile, where despite the vaccination campaign, contaminations are soaring, some variants being resistant to vaccines.

So what precautions are taken at French airports for all travelers to and from Brazil?

Europe 1 went to Roissy Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris on Monday.

With two flights a day, few travelers return from Brazil - around 100 each day from Rio and Sao Paulo.

But no specific control is really put in place when they arrive in France.

They must follow the same protocol as other travelers coming from abroad: a negative PCR test of less than 72 hours, declare on their honor that they have no symptoms and undertake to isolate themselves for 7 days.

The protocol has been slightly reinforced for two days, with an antigen test on arrival, as for other countries considered to be at risk.

Travelers who test positive must be confined for 10 days.

"They will have to isolate themselves either at an address that they declare on the territory, or in a hotel room at their expense.

This is obviously based on their good faith but some police services may possibly control the presence of the person at the place of residence that he declares ", specifies Cécile Aerdeman, commissioner of the border police.

Tighten the protocol as in England?

But for travelers accustomed to Paris-Rio round trips, declarations on their honor are not enough, isolation should be imposed.

"There is no one who respects the confinement, it is very worrying", assures José.

Another traveler proposes to "take the example of England. There, it is obligatory and the government calls them every day during their stay in confinement".

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These travelers fear that the only solution to protect France from the Brazilian variant is finally to completely close the borders with Brazil ...