Like many European countries, such as the United Kingdom or Denmark, France is gradually easing its health restrictions, while tightening the conditions of the vaccination pass. LThe terms of validity of the latter were tightened, Tuesday, February 15: a booster dose of the vaccine against the coronavirus must now intervene less than four months after the previous injection, against seven initially. As a consequence of this hardening, between four and five million of French people are likely to lose their vaccination pass, according to the Minister of Health, Olivier Veran.
At the same time, the government is gradually reducing the pressure of its health measures linked to leisure activities, as announced on January 20 by the Prime Minister, Jean Castex. The fifth wave of Covid-19, marked by a strong circulation of the Omicron variant, is easing. Several epidemiologists, however, criticized this schedule at the end of January, deeming this lifting of restrictions premature. The pressure remains “still high” in the hospital, recalled Public Health France in its last weekly epidemiological update.
Franceinfo takes stock of what is authorized again or what is about to be authorized in the coming weeks.
What changes from February 16
The festive spirit and conviviality should take on new colors. From Wednesday, standing consumption in bars, cafes and restaurants, prohibited since January 3, is again authorized.
More good news for revelers: nightclubs can reopen after more than nine weeks of closure, “in compliance with the health protocol”, explains the government. Unlike the reopening of June 2021the health protocol is not yet specified. The news had been moderately well received by professionals in the sector at the end of January. Some said they were relieved, others disappointed.reported France 3 Bretagne, the reopening originally scheduled for January 24, having finally been postponed for three weeks.
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Standing concerts are also resuming, a new milestone for the culture sector after the removal of gauges February 2. The restrictions have not been without economic sacrifice: the announcements of December 27 have caused “a drop in ticket sales of 38 to 40%” in rooms with less than 2,000 seats, according to the boss of the Prodiss union, Olivier Darbois.
The icing on the cake (or almost), spectators will once again be able to eat popcorn at the cinema. The consumption and sale of food and drink in stadiums, cinemas or public transport is again permitted.
What will change from the end of February
When returning from the winter holidays, the health protocol for schools will be lightened, the Minister of National Education, Jean-Michel Blanquer, announced last Friday. The changes will therefore take place from February 21 for zone B, from February 28 for zone A and from March 7 for zone C. The mask will no longer be compulsory in the playground, but will remain so indoors. UOnly one self-test will be requested instead of three, if the child has been in contact with another student (or an adult) tested positive in his class.
From February 28, the protocol governing contact cases will also evolve. As at school, a person in contact with another positive for Covid-19 will no longer have to realize “only one test (self-test, RT-PCR or antigen test) on D2, i.e. two days after being informed that they have been in contact with a person who tested positive, instead of three tests (on D0, D2 and J4) currently”. Nevertheless, if theself-test proves positive, a confirmatory RT-PCR or antigen test will always be necessary.
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From February 28, it will no longer be compulsory to put on your mask in closed places requiring the vaccine pass, such as in the cinema, at the theater or in the museum. At the restaurant, at the bar or in a cafe, the mask hitherto necessary to move to the toilets, or to pay at the counter, elsewhere than at its place of restoration, can be removed.
ButWearing a mask indoors will always be compulsory in public transport (metro, buses, trains, planes, etc.) and closed places not subject to the vaccination pass (hospitals, administrations, public services, shops, offices, etc.). .
What has already changed on February 2
Since February 2, wearing a mask outdoors is no longer required. This measure also concerns town centers and open-air markets. It still remains “recommended in the event of a large gathering of people”according to the government.
Other measures have entered into force: the gauges have been removed for establishments welcoming the seated public. Stadiums and performance halls with more than 2,000 people indoors and 5,000 outdoors can reopen “at full capacity, without limiting the number of visitors admitted, respecting the obligation to wear a mask”.
Teleworking (minimum 3 days per week) is no longer mandatory, but is still recommended. Companies decide on the appropriate level.
Since January 24, the vaccination pass has supplanted the health pass. On February 9, government spokesman Gabriel Attal said that “end of March-beginning of April”, this disputed pass could be suppressed. While vaccination was opened to them in June, adolescents from 12 to 17 years old now have access to a booster dose. It is not mandatory and therefore not necessary to maintain the validity of the health pass for adolescents, but it is still recommended due to the high contagiousness of the Omicron variant. The booster administered is the Pfizer vaccine since the High Authority for Health (HAS) does not recommend using the Moderna vaccine in adults under 30 in France.