Flu, bronchiolitis…and now Covid-19 are putting pressure on hospitals

What are the current Covid-19 recommendations?

The test

Audrey Bonnelance recalls that the rapid (antigen) test is still relevant. This test can be done at home, in a pharmacy or at your GP’s. Inexpensive, this test gives an answer within 15 minutes.

But is this test reliable? “That’s the big problem.” says the general practitioner. “The concern is that the performance of these tests is not very good. Sensitivity is only 64%“In other words, out of 100 people sick with Covid-19 who get tested, only 64 will have a positive response, i.e. practically one in two people. Which makes the GBO administrator say: “You have to be careful. If you have really typical symptoms of Covid-19, fever, body aches, loss of taste and smell, chest pain and you have a negative test, you shouldn’t trivialize, you have to be careful and above all protect those around you who are weakened.”

As to whether to double check with a PCR test? The latter is only realized in certain situations. This is the case in a nursing home or when you live under the same roof as a fragile person and therefore at risk of developing a severe form of Covid-19.

Isolate or not?

In the event of confirmation of contamination, is it still recommended to isolate oneself, to stay at home and not to go to work? For Audrey Bonnelance the answer is not simple. She recalls the procedure:

In case of symptoms, a test must be carried out within the first 5 days. If the latter is positive, the current measures would require that we stay at home for 7 days. Telecommuting can be considered if possible.

On the other hand, if a member of the family is positive, but that one does not have symptoms, there is no obligation to carry out a test “and we can continue to live normally. That is thanks to vaccination and natural immunity since we decide to let the virus circulate. We took off the masks.”