“The situation is extremely tense.” During a press conference organized on Monday, December 27, the Prime Minister, Jean Castex, made a final diagnosis of the resumption of the Covid-19 epidemic in France. Accompanied by the Minister of Health, Olivier Véran, the head of government announced a new series of measures, which concern in particular teleworking “obligatory”, transport and large gatherings.
We compile in this article some answers to the questions asked on Tuesday in the direct from franceinfo.fr.
Will political meetings be limited to 2,000 people?
From January 3, 2022, gauges are back for large gatherings, with a limit of 2,000 people for indoor events and 5,000 for outdoor events. But political meetings, whether they take place in the context of the presidential election or not, are exempt from this new rule. The Prime Minister stressed Monday evening that these activities are subject “to specific provisions in our constitutional law which provide them (…) even stronger protection”.
In decision rendered on December 8, the Constitutional Council had also recalled that “presentation of the health pass cannot be required for access to polling stations or to political meetings and activities”. We must therefore stick to this decision for the moment.
Nevertheless, Jean Castex announced that a committee must be met in January by the Minister of the Interior, Gérald Darmanin, in order to “set rules” around the presidential ballot. This had already been the case for regional and cantonal elections. While meetings cannot be further supervised, provisions are being studied to facilitate proxies, and thus avoid crowds in polling stations.
Should we expect a New Year’s Eve curfew?
No. Apart from some local measures concerning minors, as in Strasbourg (Bas-Rhin), no Curfews will only be put in place on the evening of December 31 to reduce private gatherings. Fireworks and the consumption of alcohol will nevertheless be prohibited on public roads. Jean Castex has also announced that tAll the wishing ceremonies scheduled for January would be canceled. One defense council will be held on January 5, “to redo the point” on the health situation at the end of the school holidays.
How does the government intend to impose teleworking?
A fine system is being studied to punish resistant companies. From Monday January 3, and for three weeks, the government wants to make the use of telework compulsory “three days minimum” per week, four when possible, “in all companies and for all employees for whom this is possible”. A controversial measure, which was clarified by the Minister of Labor, Elisabeth Borne, Tuesday.
“The Minister announced to the social partners that she wished (…) to put in place more dissuasive and faster sanctions, of an administrative nature”, said the minister’s office after a videoconference with various professional representatives. This sanction system must be incorporated into the bill which will soon be examined by the National Assembly.
Will it be forbidden to eat and drink on trains, even seated?
This is indeed the rule that the government is going to impose. Jean Castex announced it, “the consumption of drinks and food will be prohibited in (…) public transport, including long distance” from Monday January 3. The objective is to prevent any removal of the mask, even occasional. This measure, which also concerns cinemas, theaters and sports facilities, therefore applies to trains, public transport (bus, tram, metro), interregional buses as well as air transport.
Contacted by franceinfo on Tuesday morning, the SNCF ensures that it “will apply whatever the government asks of it”, although the company says it is still waiting for clarification on how this rule should be implemented. Same response from Air France, which “awaits official government decree” before adapting the catering offer on board its planes.
Will health pass checks be systematic in transport?
Deemed insufficient by Jean Castex, the health pass control policy should be strengthened in the coming weeks. The Prime Minister recalled the prefects to order on this subject, at a meeting on December 21. But the Prime Minister’s attention seemed to focus mainly on hotels, bars and restaurants, as reported by BFMTV. For its part, the SNCF has been strengthening its checks on health passes since mid-December, but this measurement remains random and not systematic. The government, which has just adopted a bill on new health measures in the Council of Ministers, leaves in parliament the decision to strengthen these controls.
The sanctions against false health passes will in any case be severely increased. “It’s much more than a circumvention of Republican law […], it is a deliberate act of endangering others “, hammered Monday Jean Castex. The bill on the vaccination pass provides for a fine of 1,000 euros, and no longer 135 euros, for any fraudulent use. The manufacture or sale of a false pass could be punishable by five years in prison and a fine of 75,000 euros.
Will the metro be affected by the sanitary pass?
If the government wishes to transform the health pass into a vaccination pass, there is no question of modifying the list of places and means of transport where this pass is requested. As a reminder, only long-distance trips by interregional public transport (domestic flights, TGV journeys, Intercités and night trains, interregional coaches) are currently affected by this measure, which has been in place since August 9, 2021.
What is the time between injecting the booster dose and obtaining the vaccination pass?
There are not any. The health pass is activated immediately after the injection of the third dose or more. If you must receive your booster dose just before the deadline of January 15, 2022, your health pass will remain valid for one more week, also explains the Directorate General of Health (DGS) to franceinfo. Important detail: this grace period will not apply to injections received after January 15.
How do I know if I have the right to attend a show scheduled for January 2022?
If this show takes place before January 15, 2022, the current rules (valid health pass) apply. It is still necessary to check whether this cultural event is not postponed or canceled in reaction to the new gauges announced by the government, as is the case with some tours since Tuesday morning. If the show is on January 15 or later, you may need to have received your booster dose, have a negative test, or be in possession of a certificate of recovery. But if the vaccination pass comes into effect by then, after a vote in Parliament, it may well be that only an up-to-date vaccination schedule will allow you to attend this performance.
Will theme parks be subject to attendance gauges?
The measure does not seem to concern them. The amusement parks contacted by franceinfo do not claim to be subject to the limit of 2,000 people indoors and 5,000 people outdoors. Parc Astérix, in the Oise, explains that no new rule will be put in place on this subject. As for the Disneyland Paris parks, in Seine-et-Marne, “there are no additional instructions at this stage”, explains a manager.
These parks, which nevertheless combine entertainment and catering activities, will they be exempt from attendance gauges? Contacted by franceinfo on Tuesday, the Ministry of Tourism was unable to answer this question.