Home, bars, restaurants… a vast French study led by epidemiologist Arnaud Fontanet reveals which places are most at risk for Covid-19 contamination in our country.
As part of a study published in the journal Nature published last November, researchers had analyzed the movements of 98 million Americans during the first epidemic wave. The idea:to determine the places of frequentation where there is the greatest risk of contracting the new coronavirus. The results then pointed to restaurants, cafes, gyms, hotels and other religious establishments. This work, as we have just said, concerned only the United States. But what about France?
To find out, epidemiologist Arnaud Fontanet, member of the Scientific Council of Jean Castex's government, conducted a vast investigation, interviewing more than 25,000 French men and women affected by the virus . This work will be published in a few days, but Europe 1 has just given us the main lessons to remember.
So, what are the most frequently cited places of contamination in France? First, the house . It is in fact within the family home that the new coronavirus is most often caught (two thirds of contaminations), via the spouse or the children. Transfers of pathogens occur most often during meals , we also learn.
Outside the home, contamination is then most numerous during contact with extended family, colleagues in the workplace, and finally friends. So many people with whom we are naturally less likely to wear a protective mask .
According to this study, frequenting restaurants, bars and other gyms also increases the risk of infection . This point therefore echoes the results of the American study published a few weeks ago. Note that part of the French study having been carried out during confinement, the epidemiologist assumes in his report that "many contaminations in bars and restaurants are due to clandestine events “.
According to the results, on the other hand, visiting shops does not increase the risk of Covid infection.
Another determining factor:94% of patients questioned explained that they had isolated themselves too late from the rest of the world. However, we know that the risk of contamination with Covid-19 is much greater during the early stages of the disease, even before the first symptoms appear.
Finally, the study reveals that the professions most affected by the virus are salespeople, health personnel, administrative executives, workers and drivers. Teachers, for their part, were spared more.
