When will the mask end outside? Véran "sincerely hopes" for relief "this summer"

For the moment, it remains impossible to determine a precise date, at the end of which we will be able to reconnect with the life before, the one where it was possible to cross paths without a mask, to rub shoulders without social distancing.

But this Tuesday, the Minister of Health tried to outline, while remaining cautious, the possibility of a reduction in these barrier measures in the summer, thanks to the multiplication of injections against the Covid-19.

16.1 million French people have already received at least one dose, of which 6.7 million are vaccinated with their two doses.

“We won't wait 24 hours.

We will say it immediately ”

“We know that vaccination protects against serious forms and we believe that it protects well against the spread of the virus and therefore against the risk of epidemic, commented Olivier Véran, at the microphone of Europe 1. When enough French people will be vaccinated , we can consider lowering our guard.

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Olivier Véran on the reopening of the country despite the high level of epidemic figures: "What matters is not the level of contamination, it is the epidemic dynamic" # Europe1 pic.twitter.com/Ilp38894Qm

- Europe 1 🎧🌍📻 (@ Europe1) May 4, 2021

Then, he tried a prediction: “When the date that will allow us to calmly consider the end of barrier gestures and the end of the mask outside has arrived, we will not wait 24 hours.

We will say so immediately.

And I sincerely hope that it will be this summer ”.

"The day will come when we can find each other as before"

In an open letter addressed to the minister and published this Tuesday in our pages, the question of a possible reduction in barrier gestures for vaccinated people had already been asked.

“I would first like to tell you that I understand so much that once vaccinated, we only have one desire, and that is to remove the mask and forget the barrier gestures.

That day will come, I am convinced.

And the sooner the better, ”replied Olivier Véran.

He then specified that "the High Council of Public Health recommends, pending more information, to continue to protect ourselves, to protect others, in particular fragile people and people who have not yet been vaccinated.

"And already concluded on a note of hope:" I say it again, the day will arrive when we will be able to find ourselves as before, without barriers, without the permanent concern of keeping our distance.

And I promise you that as soon as we have the assurance that this day has come, we will not wait until the next day.

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A "confidence" given to 18-54 with chronic diseases

In the interview granted this Tuesday to Europe 1, the Minister of Health also considered that the absence of a prescription to vaccinate 18-54 year olds suffering from chronic diseases is "common sense".

"I could have asked 4 million French adults, young people, suffering from chronic diseases, to go to their doctor, to traffic congestion in the medical offices in barely of epidemic wave, to ask them for a certificate according to which they would have a disease", a he justified, saying to bet on the "confidence" granted to this population, concerned by a wider opening of vaccination since last weekend. "There may be workaround strategies, but it will be at the margin," he said.