The executive wants to harden the legislative arsenal to counter the surge in Covid-19 cases. The law project rstrengthening the tools for managing the health crisis will be adopted on Monday, December 27 by the Council of Ministers, before being examined on Wednesday in committee at the National Assembly. The text, which must come into force by January 15, provides for the introduction of a vaccination pass. But faced with the spread of the contagious Omicron variant, the government also reserves the right to require a negative test in addition to vaccination to access certain places.
A preliminary version of the bill, that franceinfo was able to consult, in fact mentions the hypothesis of fixing by decree the cases “in which the interests of public health and the state of the health situation (…) require the accumulation of supporting documents”. If the reinforced vaccine pass model is only one track in France for the time being, it is already known to our German-speaking neighbors under the name of the “2G +” regime. Franceinfo explains how this system works abroad.
A negative test in addition to the vaccination or a certificate of recovery from Covid-19
Rule 2G + is particularly applied in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. The “G” refers to “geimpft”, which means “vaccinated” in German, or “genesen” for “restored”. To access places classified as 2G, it is necessary to present proof of a complete vaccination schedule or a certificate of recovery from Covid-19.
For places classified 2G +, access is limited to people who have been vaccinated or cured, and who also have a recent negative test document. In Germany, it has to be an antigen test of less than 24 hours or a PCR test of less than 48 hours, as the Federal Center for Health Education explains. However, people who have received a booster dose do not have to undergo an additional test to access these places.
Um die #Corona-Pandemie einzudämmen, gilt an vielen Orten # 2G, 2G-Plus, # 3G oder 3G-Plus. Die #BZgA-Grafik zeigt auf einen Blick, was damit gemeint ist. Für Personen mit #Auffrischimpfung (#BoosterImpfung) entfällt die zusätzliche Testpflicht bei # 2GMore: https://t.co/WtDgB65FXV pic.twitter.com/Iz0Ka7uh54
– BZgA (@bzga_de) December 20, 2021
The 2G + category is the most restrictive of this classification system since it requires fulfilling two criteria. Thus, in Germany, some places are simply listed as 3G, for “geimpft, getestet, genesen” (“vaccinated, tested, recovered”): they are accessible on presentation of either a complete vaccination schedule, a certificate of recovery from Covid-19, or a negative test (antigen less than 24 hours or PCR less than 48 hours).
Required in particular in Swiss nightclubs and on the Austrian border
In Germany, the conditions of access to public places are likely to vary from one Land to another. “In some regions, hotel services as well as other types of providers (transport, museums, cinemas, restaurants, bars, etc.) are free to choose the type of health pass (3G or restricted health pass 2G or 2G +) that they want to apply in their establishment “, mentions the travel advice page of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In Bavaria, for example, the 2G + rule is in effect for access to theaters, opera houses, concert halls, cinemas, museums and fairs, details the region on its website (in German).
In Switzerland, access to nightclubs has been subject to the 2G + system since December 20. “When it is not possible to wear the mask or to eat seated, access will be reserved for vaccinated or cured people who may also have a negative test result”, writes the Federal Council. People vaccinated or cured for less than four months are however exempt from the obligation to be tested. People who have received a booster injection are also not affected. Furthermore, “companies and event organizers subject to the 2G rule can decide to apply the 2G + rule in order to be able to waive the obligation to wear a mask and consume seated”, adds the Federal Council.
In Austria, the 2G + regime applies at the borders. A certificate of cure or complete vaccination schedule, as well as a negative PCR test result, are required to travel to Austrian soil, reports the French Embassy in Austria. For travelers from a country “where the incidence of infection is low or medium”, like France, a booster dose eliminates the need to present proof of recent screening.
A system that is spreading in the face of the spread of the Omicron variant
In Switzerland, the implementation of the 2G + system was decided due to “the contagiousness of the Omicron variant “, explains the Federal Council. Especially since“We do not yet know the possible complications in the case of an infection with the Omicron variant, nor the degree of protection of people immunized against these complications”, adds the Swiss executive body. For its part, Austria has applied this regime to its borders since December 20. “in order to curb the spread [du variant] Omicron “, underlines the French Embassy in Austria.
It is also to cope with the surge of this new variant that Luxembourg has in turn adopted the 2G + rule. Since Saturday, December 25, access to cafes and restaurants is subject to an on-site test, in addition to vaccination, details The Daily. Customers who have received a vaccine booster are not affected. “We decided to act in a preventive way to avoid a tsunami of infections during January “, justified Prime Minister Xavier Bettel before Parliament.