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Covid-19: vaccination pass, school, wearing a mask, discos... Our answers to your questions

2022-01-21T13:50:44.519Z


After the multiple announcements of Prime Minister Jean Castex, Thursday evening, on an upcoming easing of restrictions linked to Covid-19, Le


The horizon emerges after the gigantic Omicron wave.

Thursday evening, Jean Castex announced a series of reductions in restrictions linked to the Covid-19 epidemic and the emergence of this new highly transmissible variant, but considered less offensive than Delta.

Introduction of the vaccination pass, end of the outdoor mask, reopening of nightclubs, reminder for teenagers… Here are the answers we can provide to any questions you may have, after this speech by the Prime Minister.

Vaccination

Is the vaccine booster for teenagers mandatory?

No.

Teenagers will be able to keep their health pass (for 12-15 year olds) or their vaccination pass (for 16-17 year olds from Monday) even if they have not received their additional injection.

Adults have a period of 7 months after their initial vaccination schedule to receive their booster.

This period will even be reduced to 4 months from February 15.

Read alsoVaccination of adolescents: why the government opens the booster dose (without obligation)

Who can vaccinate children?

For the moment, only doctors, nurses and pediatricians can vaccinate children aged 5 to 11 years.

Jean Castex promised to authorize “more places and professionals, including pharmacists and nurses”, to be able to administer pediatric vaccines.

The Prime Minister also acknowledged that the vaccination of children had started "slowly" since its launch on December 22.

Only 8,000 young people between the ages of 5 and 11 currently receive a first dose daily, on average.

Vaccination pass

From when should we use a vaccination pass, and where?

The vaccination pass, which certifies a complete vaccination scheme against Covid-19, “will come into force next Monday, January 24”, announced the Prime Minister, provided that it is validated by the Constitutional Council.

His decision is expected on Friday.

It will be necessary "to go to the restaurant, to the cinema, to the theater, to a stadium or to take the TGV".

Are all French people affected by the vaccination pass?

No.

It will concern “all French people aged 16 and over”.

Teenagers aged 12 to 15 can obtain a vaccination pass, but it is not compulsory for them: a health pass with a negative test may be enough for them to access certain places.

Children under 12 are not affected by the health pass or the vaccination pass.

I had the Covid last November, so I did not receive my third dose, will I be entitled to the vaccine pass?

Yes, because Social Security has sent you an authentic certificate of reinstatement.

Once it has expired, that is to say after 6 months, you must have received your vaccination booster in order to be protected and to continue to benefit from your vaccination pass.

This can be administered from 3 months after infection.

I have just had my first injection, when can I expect to obtain the vaccination pass?

If you have just received your first or second dose, you will still be able to obtain the vaccine pass from next Monday, like people who have already received their booster dose.

"We are going to allow those who will take their first dose by February 15 to benefit from a valid vaccination pass," Jean Castex announced on Thursday.

This is subject to two conditions: "to do well (his) second dose a month later and, in the meantime, also justify a negative test within 24 hours", specified the head of government.

One of my relatives is hospitalized and I do not have a vaccination pass.

Can I still visit him?

Yes, because healthcare facilities are an exception.

"Only visits to hospitals, retirement homes or other medico-social establishments can remain accessible with a

(negative)

test, as is already the case today," said the Prime Minister in his speech on Thursday evening.

Wearing a mask

When can we give up wearing a mask outdoors?

“Wearing a mask will no longer be required outdoors” from Wednesday February 2, announced the Prime Minister.

Read alsoFebruary 2, February 16… Here is the timetable for the lifting of restrictions

Where will the wearing of the mask remain compulsory?

The rules do not change for wearing a mask indoors, already compulsory in shops or transport.

It will also remain mandatory in sports and cultural facilities which accommodate seated public and which will return to "operation at full capacity, without gauge" from February 2, said Jean Castex.

School

Will the health protocol at school change?

It is “probable”, indicates Matignon, but only at the start of the February holidays.

This is scheduled for February 21, February 28 or March 7, depending on the area.

The changes could relate to “the lifting of the wearing of masks for pupils in elementary schools, or the question of the number of tests or self-tests to be carried out”, specified Jean Castex.

Does lifting the wearing of masks outdoors concern schools?

No.

The school is subject to special treatment and, therefore, the lifting of the wearing of masks outdoors will not apply there on February 2 as elsewhere.

As specified above, the health protocol in schools will be reworked during the month of February and could be lightened "on the return of the February school holidays", in particular on this question of wearing a mask in elementary school, said know Jean Castex.

No precise date has been communicated at this stage.

Job

Until when will teleworking remain the rule?

Telework (3 or 4 four compulsory days per week) remains the rule until February 2, announced Jean Castex.

After this date, “it will no longer be mandatory, but will remain recommended”.

The government leaves “it is up to companies to maintain the right level within the framework of their internal social dialogue”.

I am at risk.

Can I continue working from home after February 2?

Yes, people deemed fragile or at risk can continue teleworking after its lifting on February 2, replies the Ministry of Labor.

I would like to stay telecommuting in February.

Can my boss refuse me and force me to come back to the office?

“The employee can telecommute according to the rules which have been defined in the social dialogue in the company”, explains the Ministry of Labor.

In short: if no agreement allowing teleworking has been defined within your company after this deadline, your superior can bring you back to the office.

Will we have to wear the mask at work after February 2?

Yes, according to the ministry.

Many other health rules are imposed in companies to limit the circulation of the virus and are detailed in a dedicated protocol.

Culture, sport, bars and clubs

When will we be able to go back to a nightclub or attend a standing concert again?

“As of Wednesday February 16, standing concerts and standing consumption in bars will be able to resume, nightclubs will be able to reopen”, announced Jean Castex.

Read alsoReopening of nightclubs: professionals “happy and satisfied”

Will a vaccination pass be required to enter nightclubs and bars after February 16?

Yes, confirmed Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne, this Friday on BFMTV.

But no test will a priori be requested in addition to the vaccination pass, according to the Minister Delegate, in particular in charge of Small and Medium Enterprises and Tourism.

Will we have to wear the mask in a nightclub on February 16?

Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne announced on BFMTV his desire to reopen the nightclubs "on February 16 under ordinary conditions with the vaccination pass", without "nothing more", that is to say without a negative test in addition to the pass, or wearing a mandatory mask.

But on Thursday, Olivier Véran's opinion was less clear-cut.

Final answer expected in the next few days.

I am celebrating my birthday on the 24th February, will we be able to dance in the bars on this date?

According to the schedule unveiled Thursday evening, yes.

From Wednesday February 16, the French will be able to go to the discotheque but also again to consume standing up and dance in the bars.

“The state of mind is to find the establishments as they were previously frequented thanks to the vaccination pass”, confirmed on BFMTV Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne.

When will we be able to see a football match or go to the cinema without a gauge?

“As of Wednesday February 2, all equipment, in particular sports and cultural facilities, which accommodate seated audiences, will be able to return to full capacity operation, without gauge, while respecting, however, the obligation to wear a mask”, announced Jean Castex. .

From February 16, it will again be possible to consume food in stadiums or cinemas, he added.

Testing

What are the new professions authorized to carry out tests?

In addition to announcing an easing of restrictions, the government has reinforced its testing policy.

And the Minister of Health, Olivier Véran, extended by decree the list of professions authorized to take a “nasopharyngeal, oropharyngeal, salivary and nasal” sample under the responsibility of a doctor or pharmacist.

The seventeen professions concerned are: speech therapist, chiropodist-podiatrist, orthoptist, medical physicist, occupational therapist, psychomotrician, audioprosthetist, dietician, optician-lunemaker, orthoprosthetist, podo-orthist, ocularist, epithetist, orthopedist-orthist, dental assistant, veterinarian and veterinary public health inspector (provided that they hold a diploma, certificate or title allowing them to exercise a veterinary activity in France).

They will nevertheless have to practice “under the responsibility” of an authorized professional, such as a doctor or a pharmacist.

Restrictions

Why don't these reductions take place now?

As the "tension remains high" in the hospital, in the words of Jean Castex, the government has decided to wait a bit before easing the restrictions from February 2.

This delay responds to a double challenge: to allow the deployment of the vaccination pass, which comes into force on January 24, and to consolidate the situation in the hospital in the face of the Omicron wave.

“These delays” must “allow our hospitals to absorb the effects of the epidemic peak”.

Read alsoCovid-19: vaccines, drugs... new weapons against Omicron

What indicators does the government use to lighten the measures?

Slight drop in the number of intensive care admissions for a week, decline in the Delta variant

(more formidable than the other variants)

, encouraging signs of a decline in Omicron in Île-de-France, boding well for the other territories… Jean Castex spoke on Thursday evening of "the encouraging developments that are beginning to take shape" and make it possible to consider these reductions, with the caution to which the Covid-19 has invited throughout this pandemic.

This improvement is coupled with "tensions which are still exerted on our health system", recognized Jean Castex.

Something to rejoice in… Without declaring victory too quickly.

Source: leparis

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