Coronavirus: the means developed in France to prevent the epidemic

Text by: RFI Follow

France is preparing for a possible “epidemic” of the coronavirus. Precautionary measures have been taken for people returning from northern Italy where the virus is rife and resources have been strengthened in the territory.

Publicity

France is alert to the very evolving situation in northern Italy. A bus from Milan, arriving at Perrache bus station in Lyon, was isolated for a few hours this February 24 due to suspicions about the state of health of an Italian passenger. A Parisian police station also briefly closed its doors after the uneasiness of a Chinese national.

A sensitive device to detect possible cases

The French authorities have issued a series of recommendations for people returning from the two Italian regions affected by the new coronavirus, Lombardy and Veneto , have just been issued. They are asked to avoid " any unnecessary exit ". Workers and students must " favor telework and avoid close contact ". They should take their temperature twice a day and watch for symptoms of respiratory infection.

In addition, the list of countries where the virus circulates has been modified with the addition of South Korea, Lombardy and Veneto in Italy. Clinicians are therefore instructed to call 15 for a classification of patients with breathing difficulties from these regions. The website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for travel advice assesses case by case with health messages to know what to do when traveling in these areas.

Reinforced hospital resources

In addition, syndromic surveillance, i.e. surveillance of severe cases of patients in intensive care in acute respiratory distress with negative results (i.e. for which no cause is found) is implementation in hospitals. During a briefing with the press, on the situation in France, the new Minister of Health, Olivier Véran, had indeed yesterday detailed the strategy put in place to prepare the country. To date, 38 health establishments have been planned to accommodate possible patients. 108 establishments will now be activated with isolation rooms, so that all metropolitan departments will have at least one hospital center to care for the sick. He notably mentioned the increase in the “ number of laboratories equipped with diagnostic tests ” to reach a capacity of several thousand analyzes per day and throughout the territory, compared to 400 today.

Adapted masks

It is also necessary to provide sufficient equipment in masks. But are the masks effective? " The surgical mask which does not fully encompass the respiratory sphere, the mouth or the nose, because on the sides it is not waterproof can benefit sick people to avoid spreading postillions when a person coughs for example ", explains Vincent Enouf, researcher at the Institut Pasteur.

“ There are the less common FFP2, FFP3 masks, used in the laboratory that completely close the respiratory sphere and protect particles that could end up in the air when someone coughs . Indeed, the surgical mask does not protect people who are not sick. But on the other hand, it is to be used by people who feel sick to avoid a direct diffusion of the viral particles , "he adds.

“ However, the best is for the person to stay at home. This is very important, ”Vincent Enouf, researcher at the Institut Pasteur, told RFI.

Newsletter With the Daily Newsletter, find the headlines directly in your mailbox

Download the app

• Health and Medicine
• coronavirus

On the same subject

Coronavirus weakens French companies based in Asia

Coronavirus: South Korea, second most affected country after China

Coronavirus: epidemic spreading in the Middle East and Central Asia