This year again, the Covid-19 is shaking up the end-of-year celebrations.
Including those of the government, which met this Monday afternoon for a Health Defense Council followed by an exceptional Council of Ministers.
These two meetings were added last week to the agendas of the ministers concerned to accelerate the transformation of the health pass into a vaccination pass, but also to deal with the record of daily contaminations and its consequences on the organization of society.
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"Once again, the evolution of the health crisis forces us to come before you", began the Prime Minister, explaining that the health situation was "extremely tense" in France as in Europe.
The national incidence rate is "over 700, the highest since the start of the crisis," he said.
The reminder deadline further reduced
The government's strategy is clear and it is confirmed once again this Monday: bet on vaccination.
"In all critical care services", the vast majority of people with severe forms "are not vaccinated" or do not have "a complete vaccination", justified Jean Castex.
To further accelerate on this side, the ministers decided to follow the latest recommendations of the High Authority of Health, unveiled on Friday, by reducing the spacing between the primary vaccination and the booster dose to three months.
A measure announced only three days after the reduction of this period from five to four months.
The vaccine pass bill
The purpose of the Council of Exceptional Ministers was to present the bill aimed at transforming the health pass into a vaccination pass.
"In places where this pass has been applied for several months (...) it will be necessary to justify being vaccinated to be able to enter", recalled Jean Castex.
A rule that will apply "from January 15" if it is adopted in Parliament.
In addition, the bill provides for more severe penalties for the use and sale of false passes, the prime minister said, without giving further details.
No curfew
This was one of the possibilities mentioned, but it was not retained.
There will be no curfew on December 31, for New Years Eve.
"We will review the situation on the occasion of a next Defense Council", on January 5, added the Prime Minister all the same.
Back to school maintained
Another proposal, ultimately rejected: the postponement of the start of the school year.
Closing schools only intervenes "as a last resort", recalled Jean Castex.
"There will therefore be no postponement of the start of the school year, or distance learning".
"We assume to make the school safe," confirmed Olivier Véran for his part.
This is not really a surprise, since, last week, Gabriel Attal had already explained that the will of the government was "to do everything to keep schools open as much as possible", assured the government spokesperson, recalling that their closure was "a last resort".
The return of gauges in large gatherings
"To face the two waves", those of Delta still in progress, and that of Omicron, the government had to take "new restrictions", which will apply from next Monday.
This involves the return of the gauges in certain places.
They had disappeared this summer with the implementation of the health pass.
As of next week, large gatherings will be limited to a maximum of 2,000 people indoors and 5,000 people outdoors.
"Standing concerts will be prohibited", also clarified Jean Castex.
New rules on food and return of the mask outdoors
Another restriction decided by the government: it will soon be prohibited to eat in public transport - including for long journeys - as well as in cinemas or theaters.
In bars and cafes, consumption can no longer be done standing up and will have to be done "only sitting".
In addition, the obligation to wear a mask outside will be extended to all city centers, announced the Prime Minister.
“Mandatory” teleworking three days a week
The government has toughened the tone on teleworking.
It will be "made compulsory at a minimum of three days per week, and if possible four days" in professions where this is possible for "at least three weeks", announced Jean Castex.
Already last week, the Minister of Labor, Élisabeth Borne, recommended “three to four days” of teleworking per week and asked companies to speed up by January.
Reduced time to isolation
With the daily contamination records, the government is facing an unprecedented problem: the excessively high number of contact cases, which is starting to pose a problem in several sectors.
As of last week, the Scientific Council had also warned against "the disorganization of society".
The government has therefore decided to ease the isolation rules for contact cases.
They will be fixed "by the end of the week", after consultation with the scientific authorities, explained Jean Castex.
The idea being to adapt to Omicron and to place “less constraints” on those vaccinated.
