Coronavirus recommendations - message from the Senior Defense and Security Official
A message from Marie-Anne LEVEQUE, Secretary General and Senior Defence and Security Official, on the recommendations to the establishments concerning the coronavirus:
As you know, on 31 December 2019, the World Health Organization (WHO) was informed of several cases of pneumonia of viral origin in the city of Wuhan, China.
On 7 January 2020, the discovery of a new coronavirus, called "2019-nCov", was officially announced by the Chinese health authorities.
Currently, the epidemiological situation continues to evolve, both in terms of its worldwide geographical distribution and the number of confirmed cases (6 in France on 30 January 2020, no deaths to date).
On 30 January 2020, the WHO officially declared that we are now facing a "public health emergency of international scope".
In France, the Public Health strategy aimed at protecting populations in the event of an epidemic is relayed by the Health Crisis Centre of the Ministry of Solidarity and Health. The first phase of this plan, which consists of limiting the introduction of the virus into the country through appropriate measures, has already been implemented by the public authorities.
At this stage, it is worth recalling a certain number of points:
Basic hygiene measures
The basic hygiene measures (similar to those recommended for seasonal influenza, for example) recalled by the Ministry of Solidarity and Health are fully up to date, since they are proving to be effective:
- wash your hands regularly with soapy water or hydro-alcoholic solutions,
- use disposable tissues and wash your hands regularly,
- in case of symptoms of respiratory infection (fever and cough/breathing difficulties) it is recommended to wear a surgical mask if in contact with other people (to avoid contaminating nearby people),
- contact Samu Centre 15 reporting symptoms, especially in the context of a recent stay in China. Do not go directly to the Emergency Department.
It is not useless to recall that the official website https://www.santepubliquefrance.fr/ reminds that "Wearing a surgical mask is recommended for sick people who have symptoms, i.e. when they cough or sneeze to avoid spreading the disease by sputum (airway). The wearing of this type of mask by the non-ill population to avoid catching the disease is not part of the recommended barrier measures and its effectiveness has not been demonstrated. Health professionals in close contact with patients for care have specific protective equipment. ».
Reminder of the recommendations of the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs (MEAE) on travel to China
Our two ministries, MENJ and MESRI, are implementing the recommendations of the MEAE and are asking all the establishments under their supervision or co-supervision to follow these recommendations, which state that "due to the containment measures decided by the Chinese authorities, which notably result in the suspension of transport, it is strongly recommended to postpone all travel to Wuhan and the whole of Hubei province [...] Furthermore..., As the measures taken by the Chinese authorities to contain the spread of the virus are evolving day by day and have a very strong impact on transport, accommodation and tourist sites throughout China, it is recommended that all non-essential travel to China be postponed, in particular school trips and exchanges[1], research and academic missions. »
In addition, it should be added that for other trips abroad, the traveller and the organizer must rely on the recommendations of the Arianehttps://pastel.diplomatie.gouv.fr/fildariane/dyn/public/login.html portal.
These considerations and reminders call for particular attention to be paid to the perimeters of the Ministries of National Education and Youth and of Higher Education, Research and Innovation, and are therefore applicable to all establishments over which they exercise supervision or co-supervision.
School trips of students, travel of students and more generally of staff in the framework of their activity (teachers, researchers, teacher-researchers, research missions ...)
As regards trips to China, it is recommended to postpone them to a later date.
With regard to missions, it is recommended to postpone the missions of researchers and teacher-researchers in Hubei province and to limit themselves to imperative missions in China.