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COVID-19 RULES

What to do if you test positive or are a contact case for Covid in France

France has in recent days relaxed its self-isolation rules for people who test positive for Covid, as well as those who are contact cases. Here's how the new rules work.

Published: 2 January 2022 10:07 CET
Updated: 7 January 2022 16:28 CET
Man standing in front of a window
The government says initial data showed that the incubation period of Omicron may be faster than other variants, favouring a reduction in the length of isolation. Photo by Sasha Freemind on Unsplash

The new rules, which came into force on January 3rd, allow a “risk-benefit balance aimed at ensuring the virus is controlled while maintaining socio-economic life”, said health minister Olivier Véran.

What if you test positive?

It depends on your vaccination status.

Fully vaccinated people (see below for the definition of ‘fully vaccinated’), over the age of 12, who test positive only have to isolate for seven days, but can leave quarantine after five days if they show a negative test, Véran said. The test can be either a PCR or antigen test, but not a home test.

Previously anyone who tested positive in France had to isolate for 10 days.

PCR tests were previously required to confirm a diagnosis, but now antigen test and home-tests can be used as well with no need for  follow-up PCR test. If you cannot work while you are in self-isolation, you can apply for an arrêt de travail (ensuring you will still be paid) with either a PCR or antigen test result, but not a home test.

Those in this age group who are not fully vaccinated must complete a 10-day quarantine, according to the same rules, but shortened to seven should they present a negative antigen or PCR test at that stage.

These rules apply regardless of the coronavirus variant they were infected with – a longer quarantine period for those who tested positive for the Omicron variant has been scrapped.

If you use the Tous Anti Covid app, you can upload a positive test – either PCR or antigen – to the app to notify those you have been in contact with.

What about contact cases?

There will be no quarantine for fully inoculated (this includes the booster dose, if applicable) individuals over the age of 12 who have a close contact test positive.

However, people must respect protective measures and “undergo regular testing”, Véran said.

They need to take a rapid antigen or PCR test “on the day you learn that you are a contact case”, followed by a self-test on the second and fourth days.

“If you take proof of your first test on day 0 to a pharmacy, you will receive the necessary home tests free of charge,” Veran added.

Until now, those who were a close contact of someone who tested positive had to quarantine for a week.

But if you’re unvaccinated, the seven-day quarantine remains and you should test at day zero and again on day seven. A negative test is required to leave isolation after that period.

And again, the rules apply whatever strain of coronavirus someone has caught.

What about children under the age of 12? 

The self-isolation rules for children under the age of 12 do not change according to vaccination status – vaccination for under 12s has only been available since late December, so the vast majority of under 12s are not yet fully vaccinated. 

If they test positive, they must take a PCR or antigen test five days later. They can leave isolation if this test is negative and they have been asymptomatic for 48 hours. 

If they are a contact case, they must take a PCR or antigen test immediately, followed by a self-test on Days 2 and 4 (following the moment they discovered that they were a contact case). If these tests are all negative, their parents or guardians must sign an declaration stating that the tests were indeed completed. The children can then return to school.

Fully vaccinated

The definition of ‘fully vaccinated’ can now include the booster shot.

If you have had two doses of the Covid vaccine (or one dose if you previously had Covid) more than seven months ago and have not had a booster shot, you will no longer be considered ‘fully vaccinated’ for quarantine purposes. The seven-month limit is set to be lowered to five next month.

If you caught Covid after having two doses, you will not be able to have a booster for five months, but can use your positive test result together with the two vaccine doses to show that you are considered fully vaccinated.

Put more simply – if you have a working health pass on the TousAntiCovid app, you are considered fully vaccinated by the French government.

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Member comments

  1. What about visitors to England that have returned home and been told to self isolate for ten days even though they are fully vaccinated? Can we go out after 7 days?

    1. According to the website diplomatie.gouv.fr the 10 day isolation when returning from the UK is lifted if you have a negative test 48 hours after arriving in France – according to the website that is still valid as of today (Jan. 2nd)

  2. Fully vaccinated people (see below for the definition of ‘fully vaccinated’), over the age of 12, who test positive will only have to isolate for seven days, but can leave quarantine after five days if they show a negative test, Véran said. The test can be either a PCR or antigen test, but not a home test.

    So if you can’t go out how do you get a PCR test?

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COVID-19

France scraps compulsory self-isolation after positive Covid test

France's public health body outlined how Covid-19 rules changed starting on February 1st, including an end to compulsory self-isolation after a positive test result.

Published: 30 January 2023 12:37 CET
Updated: 1 February 2023 16:26 CET
France scraps compulsory self-isolation after positive Covid test

Starting on February 1st, Covid rules relaxed in France as the country brought an end to compulsory isolation for those who test positive for the virus.

However, those travelling from China to France will still be required to agree to a random screening upon arrival and to isolate in the case of a positive Covid-19 test result. Travellers aged 11 and over coming from China must also provide a negative test result (less tan 48 hours) prior to boarding and those aged six and over must agree to wear a mask on board flights. These regulations – which was set to last until January 31st – is set to remain in place until February 15th.

The French public health body (The Direction générale de la santé or DGS)  announced the change on Saturday in a decree published in the “Journal Officiel” outlining the various ways the body will loosen previous coronavirus restrictions.

READ MORE: What Covid rules and recommendations remain for visiting France?

Those who were in contact with someone who tested positive – ie a contact cases – will also no longer be required to take a test, though the public health body stressed that both testing after contact and isolating after receiving a positive test remain recommended.

Previously, even asymptomatic people who had been in contact with someone who tested positive for Covid-19 were required to test on the second day after being notified that they were a “contact-case”.

These changes took effect on February 1st.

READ MORE: What changes in France in February 2023?

The DGS also said that website SI-DEP, which records test results, will remain in operation until June 30th, however starting in February it will only collect personal data with the express permission of the patient.

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Additionally, the French government announced that sick leave procedures for people with Covid-19 would return to normal starting February 1st – this means that those who test positive for Covid-19 now also have the three-day wait period before daily sick benefits are required to be paid, as is usually the case. Previously, people with Covid-19 could expect daily sick benefits to begin at the start of their sick leave period (arrêt maladie in French).  

READ MORE: How sick leave pay in France compares to other countries in Europe

Covid tests are still available on walk-in basis from most pharmacies are are free to people who are fully vaccinated and registered in the French health system. Unvaccinated people, or visitors to France, have to pay up to a maximum of €22 for an antigen test of €49 for a PCR test. 

If you recently tested positive for Covid-19 in France – or you suspect you may have contracted Covid-19 – you can find some information for how to proceed here.

In explaining the changes that began at the start of February, the French public health body also noted a drop in Covid-19 infections in the past month. As of January 30th, approximately 3,800 people in France had tested positive in the previous 24 hours for the coronavirus – which represents a decrease from the averages of 20,000 new cases per day about one month ago.

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