Trouville-sur-Mer (France) (AFP)

"It's great", "it's less intrusive" than a classic test: the self-tests against Covid-19, supervised by a professional, seem to have convinced most of the tourists and Normans who took part in their experiment on Thursday in Trouville-sur-mer, to test yourself more often.

"It's easier. I had tears in my eyes, but it didn't burn as much" as a test done by a professional who pushes the swab deeper, says Asma, 21.

Her sister Soumaya, 25, and her brother Mohammed, 18, have just completed their first self-test at the same time as she is sitting around a table, following the instructions of a nurse.

They are of the same opinion.

In Trouville, up to four people could be supervised at the same time by the caregiver.

Even more, in the other self-test centers, which are slowly starting to roll out in France.

A generalization of these self-tests "would encourage people to test themselves more often", estimates the elder.

"My sister, for example, would never have done it" if she had not been obliged to return home to Lyon by train, adds the young woman.

"It's very good. It's less intrusive" than the test carried out by a professional, also believes Anne-Marie, a retired Norman.

"I'm not saying it's perfect, but it's a stopgap," she adds.

Many of those interviewed Thursday do not "want" or "can" be vaccinated.

"It's great", adds Laure.

Until then, she had only done a test performed by a professional, "a nurse friend", and "under hypnosis".

"I self-test myself regularly", without supervision, adds this 50-year-old Norman who works in the production of shows.

A woman places a drop of a nasal swab on a self-test kit against Covid-19, August 12, 2021 in Trouville Sameer Al-DOUMY AFP

Vera Bortnik, translator for two years in Normandy, also prefers the self-test.

"I run the procedure myself. So it traumatizes me less," explains this Russian-speaker who had until then been tested only once.

- "Just for a coffee" -

"I think it's great. It's much less invasive. It's a shame that there aren't more places to do it. It must bring less to pharmacies," says Audrey Grange, 39 years old. , who has a second home near Trouville.

The young woman, between two vaccine injections, refused until now to go "to put something in the nose just to have a coffee".

"It's an excellent initiative", adds Catherine Laurent, 68, who is being tested for the first time to be able to return home to Strasbourg.

A woman shows the result of her self-test against Covid-19 carried out under the supervision of a nurse, on August 12, 2021 in Trouville Sameer Al-DOUMY AFP

Still, the self-test is not to everyone's taste.

Luca Codastefano, an 18-year-old Italian student, will take the swab to a professional next time.

Mathieu, 29, unemployed, did not "succeed" because he "was shaking".

This Boulonnais finally entrusted the sample to the nurse.

"It's still complicated to put something in the nose", explains Charline Fromentin, the nurse who supervises this test, despite the remuneration less than that of his liberal activities.

The young woman, vaccinated and who tests herself regularly, knows what she is talking about.

At each supervised self-test, Ms. Fromentin must ask to push the swab "a little more" then check that there are secretions on the cotton tips.

A total of 14 people came to self-test Thursday in Trouville in this center open from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., while the sunny seaside resort was stormed by tourists.

If the operation were to be repeated, the hours and the place would undoubtedly have to be reviewed, according to an elected official.

The supervised self-test center was much less visible than the pharmacy test cabins.

In Caen, since Monday, around a hundred supervised self-tests have been carried out every evening, from 6 p.m. to midnight, in two centers close to the bars, according to the Calvados mobile first aid unit association, which organizes them.

A self-test kit against Covid-19, August 12, 2021 in Trouville Sameer Al-DOUMY AFP

Here, classic tests are also offered.

"But when we explain that an antigen (classic editor's note) is 10 cm in the nose against 2-3 cm for the self-test, the answer is clear", testifies Julien Coeuret, the president of this association.

© 2021 AFP