The Limited Times

Now you can see non-English news...

Covid-19: vaccine pass, booster dose ... what to remember from Jean Castex's announcements

2021-12-17T19:05:46.531Z


The Prime Minister spoke following the Sanitary Defense Council this Friday evening as the Omicron variant spreads to


A Christmas under Omicron.

More than 50,000 positive cases are identified every day and this variant, which is spreading at very high speed, does not spare France.

Only 330 cases have been confirmed by sequencing so far, but the actual number is bound to be much higher.

It is in this context that a new Health Defense Council, announced on Wednesday, was held this Friday afternoon at the Elysee.

At its end, Jean Castex took the floor for a short statement from Matignon.

No shock restrictions, unlike Denmark which had announced a few hours earlier the closure of cinemas, theaters and museums, but several announcements and a call to responsibility as the holidays approach.

Call for responsibility for Christmas

The Prime Minister did not hide that the situation was worrying.

50,000 positive cases are therefore identified every day and 1,200 patients are admitted to hospital daily (+ 15% in one week).

"The fifth wave delta is here and there, it continues to strongly affect us," said Jean Castex.

It is already reflected in strong pressure on our hospital structures.

"

According to the Prime Minister, the Omicron variant could become dominant in France from the start of next year.

"A new wave of contamination is coming even though we are at a very high level of contamination," he warns.

The Prime Minister has therefore delivered recommendations in the run-up to the hay festivals of the year.

He calls for strict compliance with barrier gestures (mask, avoid hugs, ventilate).

He announces the recommendations of the Scientific Council: "The fewer there are, the less risks we take".

Jean Castex therefore urges people to avoid large gatherings: "We trust the prudence and responsible spirit of the French".

Wild gatherings and the consumption of alcohol may be prohibited by the prefectures.

Concerts and fireworks may be banned on December 31.

The health pass will become a vaccination pass

The government has decided to submit a bill at the beginning of January to transform the health pass into a vaccination pass.

Only vaccination will therefore be valid in the past.

The tests will therefore no longer allow entry into bars or restaurants, cinemas and other cultural places.

Delay reduced to 4 months for booster dose

When the booster vaccination campaign was launched, only people aged 65 and over and those with co-morbidities could benefit from it, at least six after the second dose.

On November 24, all adults became eligible and the deadline was reduced to five months.

Should we lower it even more, in order to further accelerate the pace?

"Yes," replied Jean Castex in substance.

The deadline will be reduced to four months.

In the UK and Greece, it has even been reduced to three months.

"If we wait five months, people who have received two doses will no longer have enough antibodies to be protected against infection," infectiologist Anne-Claude Crémieux told us on Monday.

Read also Booster vaccination against Covid: should the time since the second dose be reduced to 3 months?

This is because Omicron greatly reduces the effectiveness of vaccines.

According to a study by the British health agency, protection against symptomatic infection drops to almost 30% after 6 months, but it goes up to around 75% following a booster dose.

Currently, 18 million people, including 9 million aged 65 and over, have received an additional injection.

Increase in the remuneration of hospital staff

Highly in demand since the onset of the health crisis almost two years ago, and while the hospital public service is struggling to recruit, the executive has decided to give a financial boost.

Thus, the compensation for overtime will be doubled from Monday, said Jean Castex.

Border controls

Emmanuel Macron had announced it on the night of Thursday to Friday: vaccinated travelers arriving from a country of the European Union will not have to present a negative test to come to France.

In addition to the tightening of the rules vis-à-vis the United Kingdom from this Saturday (compulsory test of less than 24 hours regardless of the vaccination status, compelling reason and isolation of at least 48 hours compulsory on arrival in France ), no other measure was announced by Jean Castex.

Source: leparis

All life articles on 2021-12-17

You may like

News/Politics 2024-02-15T06:00:59.458Z

Trends 24h

Latest

© Communities 2019 - Privacy

The information on this site is from external sources that are not under our control.
The inclusion of any links does not necessarily imply a recommendation or endorse the views expressed within them.