What proportion of the population has actually encountered the SARS-CoV-2 virus? This is one of the major questions that arise when developing deconfinement strategies. The EpiCOV project, a large epidemiological serological study in 100,000 people coupled with questionnaires, aims to provide an accurate mapping of the immune status of the French population.
This project, which begins with a large national survey of a representative sample of more than 200,000 people (mainland France and DROM), is supported by major public health players: INSERM, DREES (research department , studies, evaluation and statistics from the Ministry of Health), and partners such as INSEE, Santé publique France, CNRS, INED and Université Paris-Saclay.
A direct debit
During the national survey, people will be invited to answer a questionnaire (online or telephone) lasting 20 to 30 minutes and, in parallel, for 100,000 of them who accept it, they you will be asked to take a few drops of blood from their home, which they will send by post for analysis.
In addition to immune status, the EpiCOV study aims to provide a map of health, living conditions and social inequalities. In addition, the project should allow monitoring of the epidemic dynamics in the short, medium and long term.
Data collection is scheduled from April 30 to May 24 for the first wave, and a second will take place in June. This operation could be repeated regularly to follow the dynamics of the epidemic and the evolution of health and social conditions in the country, in all territories, all age groups, all major social groups. First results from the questionnaires should be available at the end of May. Concerning serologies, it is specified that the results will be given as soon as possible, according to the logistical capacities available, and not before the end of May.
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