NEW COVID MEASURES. France is gradually lifting its restrictions. Monday, February 28, the Ministry of Health plans to relax the rules for testing contact cases. Wearing a mask indoors is lifted in some places. Which ? What are the next steps?
[Mis à jour le 25 février 2022 à 16h58] End of the mask? Vaccination pass?Faced with the decrease in the Covid epidemic in France, the restrictions are gradually being lifted in France. Next deadline: Monday, February 28 222. The Ministry of Health has announced a relaxation of the rules for screening contact cases. “Monday [28 février]we will lift the obligation to wear a mask indoors where the vaccination pass applies [sauf dans les transports]“said Gabriel Attal, government spokesman after the Council of Ministers on Wednesday, February 23.We will lift the pass (vaccination) when the situation has normalized in our hospitals. We could, according to the projections of the Pasteur Institute, achieve this by mid-March“ he specified. “The lifting of the measures is therefore being done gradually, calmly and without waiting a single day too long. We are more optimistic and more confident than ever about the way out of this health crisis And we move forward with serenity towards a life without restrictions” declared, confident, Gabriel Attal. What are the next steps? What measures to travel? What about telework ? What relief on February 28?
What new measures on February 28?
On February 11, 2022, the Ministry of Health announced in a communicated a relaxation of the rules for screening contact cases and of wearing a mask indoors from the February 28. Precisely :
► People case contacts will only have to realizea single test (self-test or antigen test or RT-PCR test) at D+2 instead of three tests today (on D0, D2 and D4). In the case of a positive self-test, the person will have to do an antigen test or a confirmatory RT-PCR test. The isolation rules remain unchanged.
► The Wearing a mask indoors will no longer be compulsory in closed places subject to the vaccination pass except in transportation. Wearing a mask is still recommended in the event of a group of people with a high density.
What are the new measures for the vaccination pass?
Since February 15, you must have taken your booster dose of vaccine against Covid for less than 4 months to keep a valid vaccine pass (compared to 7 months previously), remember government websitet. Also, according to a press release from the Ministry of Health dated January 27, 2022, people who cannot carry out their recall in time because they have been infected with Covid-19, will be able to use their recovery certificate from 11 days after infection and up to 4 months for those aged 18 and over. In effect from February 15, the certificate of reinstatement is valid for 4 months instead of 6. In addition, “models can let us hope thaton the horizon at the end of March beginning of April, the situation is sufficiently relaxed at the hospital for us to be able to lift the vaccination pass“, said government spokesman Gabriel Attal on Wednesday February 9, 2022 at the end of a Health Defense Council. end of the vaccination pass may intervene “as soon as the situation in the hospital allows it” he confirmed on February 15.
What are the Covid measures at the cinema?
According to the health protocol in force in cinemas, recalled on February 4 by the Ministry of Culturereception in the cinemas is done on compulsory presentation of the vaccination pass (or sanitary), the Wearing a mask is compulsory for anyone from 6 years old including for people with a health or vaccination pass (wearing a mask in the cinema should be lifted from February 28 according to the new instructions from the Ministry of Health). There is no longer a gauge limitation or a one-seat rule between spectators. When the school or extracurricular groups go to a cinema screening (this also applies to the museum or the theatre): if the establishment reserves a place or a time slot dedicated to school and extracurricular public, the health or vaccination pass is not required; if the planned activity involves mixing with other users, the health or vaccination pass, depending on age, is required. Wearing a mask is compulsory from the age of 6 : indoors and during the session, including for people with a health or vaccination pass.
What are the Covid measures for the mask?
In outside, wearing a mask is no longer mandatory since February 2, 2022. On February 11, the Ministry of Health announced in a communicated a relaxation of the rules of wearing a mask indoors from the February 28. From this date, the Wearing a mask indoors will no longer be compulsory in closed places subject to the vaccination pass. It will remain compulsory in transport and closed places not subject to the vaccination pass. Wearing a mask is still recommended in the event of a group of people with a high density. At school, wearing a mask could be reduced after the February holidays.
What are the Covid measures for tests and contact cases?
Covid screening is always carried out by PCR or antigen test. Among the latest changes, the Ministry of Health announced on February 11 that people case contacts will only have to realizea single test (self-test or antigen test or RT-PCR test) at D+2 instead of three tests today (on D0, D2 and D4) from February 28. In the case of a positive self-test, the person will have to do an antigen test or a confirmatory RT-PCR test. The isolation rules remain unchanged. Furthermore :
- He is not already no longer mandatory to carry out a PCR test to confirm a positive antigen test.
- Isolation is no longer indicated while waiting to be tested for people vaccinated against covid.
What are the Covid measures for travel?
Since February 12, the following rules will apply at the borders :
- For vaccinated travelers within the meaning of European regulations, no more testing at the start. Proof of a complete vaccination schedule becomes sufficient to arrive in France, regardless of the country of origin, as was the case before the distribution of the Omicron variant.
- For unvaccinated travellers, the obligation to present a negative test to travel to France remainsbut the measures on arrival (test, isolation) are lifted when they come from countries on the “green” list characterized by a moderate circulation of the virus.
- When unvaccinated travelers come from a country on the “orange” list, they must continue to present a compelling reason justifying the need for them to come to mainland France and may still be subject to a random test on arrival. Travelers who test positive will have to isolate themselves, in accordance with the recommendations of the Health Insurance.
What are the Covid measures in skiing?
In skiing, the health protocol was lightened in February. Contrary to that published in November 2021the Wearing a mask is no longer necessary on the chairlifts (ski lifts equipped with suspended seats) and ski lifts (“pull-buttocks”), on the mats that are only borrowed by one person at a time, nor when practicing alpine skiing, ski touring and Nordic skiing, indicates the communicated published in February by the Ministry of Tourism. On the other hand, there remains compulsory for people aged 6 or over who enter or stay in closed vehicles ski lifts (gondola or “eggs”) as well as access spaces located in enclosed areas. And recommended for people over 6 years old in situations ofcrowd in the open air at the foot of the ski lifts. the health or vaccination pass East required for access to gondolas, cable cars, funiculars, chairlifts, drag lifts and conveyor belts covered by the tourism code.
What are the latest measures for teleworking?
Since February 2, teleworking is no longer mandatory but recommended. “The use of telework is recommended: employers set, within the framework of local social dialogue, the terms and conditions for the use of telework“, can we read in the health protocol at work updated on January 25, 2022. In addition, the protocol indicates employees with contact cases or with symptoms suggestive of Covid must stay at home. In the office, each employee must be able to have a space allowing him to respect the rule of physical distancing of at least one meter in relation to any other person (e.g. other employee, customer, user, service provider, etc.) associated with wearing a mask. The moments of conviviality bringing together face-to-face employees in a professional setting are suspended.
What are the Covid measures at school?
The health protocol goes from level 3 to level 2 in elementary schools for the whole of the metropolitan territory upon return from the winter holidays in each zone:
- February 21, 2022 for zone B,
- February 28, 2022 for zone A
- March 7, 2022 for zone C.
This level change involves:
- End of the obligation to wear a mask outdoors for elementary school students and staff.
- Possibility to practice indoor physical and sports activities again without wearing a mask, always respecting physical distance. Contact sports are therefore not permitted without a mask.
- End of the restriction of mixing per class during the restoration and during the absence of a teacher. Pupils may again be distributed to other classes when a teacher is absent and awaiting replacement. The limitation of shuffling per level remains.
Wearing a mask in indoor spaces remains compulsory for staff and students aged 6 and over.
Screening rules for contact cases:
- Abolition of the presentation of a certificate on parental honor of negative self-test, from February 21, 2022.
- As of February 28, 2022, the screening system for students and staff with at-risk contact cases will be lightened: carrying out a single test (self-test or antigenic test) on D2 instead of three self-tests (D0, D2 and D4).
Furthermore, the baccalaureate specialty examsscheduled for March 14 to 16, have been postponed to May 11, 12 and 13 due to the Covid-19 epidemic.
Sources:
Ski Resorts and Covid-19 Recommendations for the 2021/2022 Winter Season. Ministry of Tourism. February 2022.
Coronavirus information – Gouvernement.fr
Press conference by Jean Castex, Monday December 27, 2021