Fauci explains why the CDC changed the covid-19 isolation guidelines 1:03
Paris (CNN) -
The rapid spread of the omicron variant of the new coronavirus in France has prompted the government to cut covid-19 isolation times for vaccinated people.
And also to take steps to further limit the access of the unvaccinated to public places in an attempt to ease the financial and social burdens of the outbreak.
The self-isolation period for fully vaccinated people who test positive will be reduced from 10 days to seven as of Monday, and can be reduced to five days with a negative test result, Health Minister Olivier Véran said al weekly Le Journal du Dimanche on Saturday.
Increase in omicron infections "is unlike anything we have seen," says an expert
"Unvaccinated people will have to isolate themselves for 10 days, with a possible exit after seven days under the same conditions," said Véran.
France reported 219,126 new infections on Saturday and became the sixth country in the world to surpass 10 million total recorded cases of covid-19.
Other changes in France
The rule change also means that contacts of positive cases will not be required to self-isolate as long as they are fully vaccinated, but will have to be tested regularly, Véran said.
Changes have also been made to the length of time that people should get the booster shot.
Starting February 15, a booster dose will need to be taken four months after a second dose, instead of the current seven months, to be considered fully vaccinated.
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Additionally, mask-wearing mandates will be extended to children six years of age and older in public places, such as train stations, airports, markets, and movie theaters.
The new rules will go into effect on Monday, when French lawmakers will also examine a bill that would limit the access of the unvaccinated to restaurants, bars and other public places, according to the bill published on the National Assembly website. .
Since July, several places and public establishments have required to enter a health pass that shows whether you are fully vaccinated, a negative result in a covid-19 test or a virus recovery test.
The bill aims to replace the health pass regimen with a vaccination pass, which requires proof of complete vaccination or recovery from covid-19, meaning that the unvaccinated could no longer rely on a negative test to gain access. to the places.
The vaccination pass would not be necessary in the workplace or in the basic health care of the social services.
If adopted, the new rules are expected to go into effect on January 15.
Véran stressed the importance of getting vaccinated and expressed hope that the fifth wave in France "will be the last."
"Ómicron is so contagious that it will affect all populations of the world. It will lead to greater immunity, we will all be better armed later. But to put the maximum possibilities on our side, we must continue to immunize the planet urgently, especially in countries where access dosing is more complicated, "he said.
People line up to get tested for COVID-19 on New Year's Day at a pharmacy on Place de la République on January 1, 2022, in Paris, France.
(Kiran Ridley / Getty Images)
Focus on the unvaccinated
The bill would also empower staff in bars, restaurants and other venues to conduct identity checks on their customers if they have "doubts" about the authenticity of their vaccination pass or suspect that they are using someone else's pass.
There could be penalties for establishments that fail to verify the authenticity of vaccination passes, and the bill will strengthen penalties for fraud where the use of someone else's pass could be punished with a fine of 1,000 euros (US $ 1,137).
The use of a fake pass will continue to be punishable by a prison term of five years and a fine of 75,000 euros (US $ 85,304).
Center-right and center-left opposition lawmakers said they will not oppose the bill, but the far-right National Rally party and far-left Untamed France have vowed to vote against it.
"Since the vaccine does not prevent contracting or transmitting the virus, I ask the government to renounce the health / vaccine pass," tweeted National Rally leader Marine Le Pen.
About 73% of people in France are fully vaccinated, more than the average of 68% in the EU, according to data from the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control.
Many countries are moving toward vaccination mandates to reinforce the process.
In November, Austria became the first Western country to announce mandatory covid-19 vaccination.
Germany last month banned the unvaccinated from accessing all but the most essential businesses, such as supermarkets and pharmacies.
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