No immediate easing of restrictions… but several dates set in the short term.
While the gauges, the ban on standing concerts and the closure of nightclubs were to last until January 24, these restrictions will be extended for one or three weeks, Prime Minister Jean Castex announced this Thursday evening, among other announcements. .
Here is what to remember from this press conference, which was held following a new Health Defense Council in the morning.
Epidemic under control?
The number of daily cases has been rising again for a few days in France (320,000 on average), but the number of Covid patients in critical care has been falling for a week (less than 4,000).
Paradoxical?
Not necessarily, given that Omicron is largely in the majority in France and that the risk of having a severe severe Covid is reduced if one is infected by this variant rather than by Delta.
Read alsoOmicron: should we fear the BA.2 sub-variant?
“The characteristics of this variant make it easy to get infected,” admitted Jean Castex, while insisting on the very strong protection offered by vaccines.
“The health situation is still tense” and “the epidemic is still expanding”, insisted Thursday at midday Gabriel Attal, also praising the impact of vaccination on serious forms.
Vaccination pass from Monday
The vaccination pass, wanted by the government, will replace the health pass from Monday, announced Jean Castex.
The elected representatives of the opposition denounce, for their part, too strong an attack on public freedoms.
The Constitutional Council must render its decision this Friday, then the law can be promulgated.
Non-vaccinated people will no longer be able to go to restaurants, cinemas, museums (among other places) with a simple negative test.
On the other hand, the fact of having been contaminated during the last six months, which offers a certificate of recovery, remains valid.
However, there is a possible adjustment: people who have not been vaccinated and who receive a first dose by February 15 will be able to have a vaccination pass lasting 24 hours on condition that they take a test and that it is negative.
In addition, the second dose must have been carried out a maximum of one month after the first.
End of compulsory telework, gauges and outdoor mask on February 2
The calendar provides two dates for the easing of measures. On February 2, no more establishment open to the public will be subject to a maximum number of spectators. Currently, this is set at a maximum of 2,000 people indoors and 5,000 outdoors. The mask will remain obligatory there but this will no longer be the case outside. Finally, the 3 to 4 days of compulsory telework per week will disappear. It will simply remain recommended not to go to the office every day.
These measures are part of those announced by Jean Castex on December 27 and initially supposed to end on Monday January 24.
“We want to give a little visibility, especially since people are fed up.
We will say that if the conditions improve, in one or two weeks we will lift the restrictions, ”said a government source on Wednesday evening.
At the same time, Labor Minister Elisabeth Borne had told the social partners that the compulsory teleworking measures should be extended by two weeks.
Reopening of nightclubs on February 16
The second date to remember is February 16.
On that day, nightclubs will once again be able to welcome customers and spectators will once again be able to stand during concerts.
There will no longer be a ban on consuming in a standing position in bars, as well as in transport.
The SNCF had nevertheless indicated, at the end of December, announced that it would be understanding vis-à-vis the passengers who would need to quench their thirst, in particular.
Booster vaccination for teenagers
Only adolescents aged 12 to 17 with comorbidities can receive their booster dose at this time.
But Jean Castex announced that the booster vaccination would be open to all teenagers from this Monday, January 24.
The High Authority for Health has not yet published an opinion on this subject, but the American and German health authorities have already given their agreement.
The Prime Minister also acknowledged that the vaccination of 5-11 year olds had started "slowly".
It promises to “facilitate it by allowing more places and professionals, including pharmacists and nurses,” to administer pediatric vaccines.
Jean Castex has not announced anything new for schools.
Simply, the school protocol will probably be lightened at the start of the February holidays, in particular concerning the wearing of a mask in elementary school.
“Nothing would have been worse than postponing the start of the school year”, he hammered.