As Christmas approaches, pharmacists expect to see many French people unloading anxious to be tested for the coronavirus before going to wake up with their family.
An influx of patients for which pharmacies are preparing by ordering tests and mobilizing staff.
But they warn: it will be difficult to come for an antigen test at the last moment.
Getting tested before going to wake up is not necessarily a good idea according to Olivier Véran.
Thursday, during Jean Castex's press conference setting the course for the next few weeks, the Minister of Health advised the French not to go massively before the end of the year celebrations, denouncing the idea of a perceived negative test like an "immunity totem".
Still, nearly a third of the French intend to get tested before they sit around the turkey.
So in pharmacies, where antigen tests have been carried out for almost a month and a half, an influx of patients is expected.
And we are preparing accordingly.
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The days before the big departure will be busy "
This is particularly the case in this pharmacy in Muret, near Toulouse, where Philippe Vergne sees his test slots fill up every hour.
For this pharmacist who only tests by appointment in the drive, the calls follow one another.
"This morning we had four families, the days before the big departure [of the Christmas holidays] are going to be busy."
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Do not come to be tested at the last moment
So to cope, he has ordered nearly 150 antigenic tests, while one of his employees will be dedicated to this task between December 19 and 24.
"I have two-three employees who will be trained next week to be able to take turns a little. I am lucky to have my daughter who is a pharmacist and who will work in addition and who, occasionally, will come to help us", he explains.
A complex system which can only function by having anticipated the supply of tests, "since the laboratories show around ten days of delay before delivery".
His advice to get tested if necessary before Christmas is therefore in one word: "anticipate".
You must make an appointment now because it will be very difficult to test patients who present at the last moment.