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More and more countries have begun to reduce the period of self-isolation of people exposed to the coronavirus, in order to stimulate greater compliance with this rule, informs the Wall Street Journal.
The reasoning of the authorities is that reducing quarantine times could help manage the pandemic by encouraging a greater degree of compliance, according to Mediafax.
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Some infectious disease and public health experts cautiously back the idea, saying that although the data is uncertain, such changes could make sense, especially in situations where saturation or failure to comply with restrictions complicates efforts. counteract the re-growth of infections. Cases of contagion in Europe escalated rapidly after a milder spell over the summer, and the United States recently posted a new daily record of infections, over 80,000.
However, other experts, including from the World Health Organization (WHO), say this is a risk that could have effects, most likely out of control for further cases of infection. And the lack of scientific knowledge on exactly how the virus behaves makes it difficult to find the best duration or strategy.
“There is a report on the risks, as some cases are in danger of escaping, but many more people could be urged to adhere to the quarantine requirements so that the gains will far exceed those that have escaped contagious people,” said Mark Plescia, medical director of the Association of State Officials. and Local Health, an organization representing health departments in the United States.
In September, France reduced the quarantine period for people who came into contact with a confirmed case of infection from 14 to seven days. The French public health authority concluded that citizens were reluctant to stay in their homes for two weeks, arguing that the risk of infection decreases over time.
Similarly, Belgium reduced the quarantine period from 14 days to seven days starting October 1, claiming compliance was low, but set a ten-day duration for October 19, in the context of an increase. of the contagion. . In September, Spain reduced the period of self-isolation after contact with an infected person from 14 days to ten days.
In Germany, public health officials have announced that the quarantine period can be reduced from 14 days to ten days starting on November 8, although each state will decide whether to apply the recommendation. Britain is considering reducing the quarantine, but there are 14 days to go, said Brandon Lewis, a member of Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s office.
In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are looking for ways to reduce the quarantine period for students who have had contact with infected people in an effort to speed up the return to school, although the two-week rule has not changed. Even for adults the recommendation for self-isolation is two weeks.
The rules for those returning from trips abroad are even more varied. France, Belgium and Germany impose the same quarantine period for people who enter self-isolation after a possible contagious contact, while Spain does not impose restrictions on international arrivals. Some countries, including South Africa, allow you to avoid quarantine if a negative Covid-19 test is shown. Japan provides a 14-day quarantine for those coming from abroad, with the exception of some countries. The UK applies a similar system.
The regulations contradict the recommendations made by the World Health Organization and the European Center for Outbreak Prevention and Control.
Some scientists and public health officials believe the additional risks may be worth taking. The reasoning is that reducing the length of the quarantine is likely more people will follow the rule. This could have a greater effect on stopping the infection if longer quarantine periods are violated frequently, even taking into account the risk that some people who terminate quarantine prematurely may still be contagious.
Numerous studies suggest that the average time to develop symptoms after exposure to SARS-CoV-2 is around five days. But a study by epidemiologist Justin Lesser and colleagues at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health shows that 97.5 percent of people develop symptoms after 11.5 days.
“Our maximum limit of 14 days is still valid, based on the data we have,” said Maria Van Kerkhove, technical director for Covid-19 at the World Health Organization.
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