The occupational health services will be able to prescribe work stoppages in connection with the Covid-19 epidemic, according to a decree published Tuesday in the Official Journal, but will not be able to do tests. This possibility was provided for in an ordinance in early April.
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Occupational physicians, who cannot prescribe work stoppages unlike an attending physician, can now do so for " persons suffering from or suspected of having Covid-19 infection, or subject to isolation measures, eviction or home support ”.
On the other hand, there is no longer any question of authorizing them to carry out tests, as provided for in the order in view, explained the Ministry of Labor, " to associate occupational health services with a policy of more massive tests with a view to breaking out of confinement ”. On this subject, the ministry now refers to the " deconfinement protocol " released last week which " prohibits " corporate screening campaigns, as the Veolia company had started to do. Crédit Mutuel and Engie changed their minds after considering carrying out such campaigns.
The occupational health services, which represent around “ 12,000 people ” according to the ministry, will be “ refocused ” on “ prevention messages ” in order to fight against the coronavirus, and on the application of good practice guides “from the various trades .
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According to the order, they can also " suspend certain compulsory medical examinations " and "give priority to hiring visits and those of people assigned to positions at risk " in particular. They will also be responsible for "supporting businesses brought, by the effect of the health crisis, to increase or adapt their activity" , and this within a deadline of August 31, 2020.