Sanitary pass: the return of the anti-Covid device at the borders?

SANITARY PASS. According to a draft law from the Ministry of Health, the government plans to reinstate the health pass at the borders of mainland France, in Corsica and in the overseas territories to deal with a new wave of Covid. -19.

[Mise à jour le 28 juin 2022 à 13h06] As France sees a 7th wave of Covid-19, with contamination by the BA.4 and BA.5 variants of Omicron on the rise for three weeks, a draft health law aimed at maintaining “a health monitoring and security system” until March 2023 has been presented to the Council of State. The preliminary draft would provide for the reinstatement of a health pass at the borders of France, Corsica and Overseas.

But beware, the health pass is not the vaccination pass. It is obtained by a negative test, proof of recovery from Covid or a vaccine. It is this same pass which currently prevails to enter hospitals, retirement homes or establishments for the disabled. But this measure can only be taken if the current legal framework for exiting the state of health emergency is extended beyond July 31.

The draft law on the health pass, authenticated by AFP, authorizes the Prime Minister to impose by decree the presentation of a health pass from the age of 12 to “move to or from French territory , Corsica or one of the overseas communities. This border pass could also apply “to personnel working in the transport services concerned”, specifies an article of the Parisian.

This draft bill “has been sent to the Council of State in recent days” and “will be the subject of discussions, before its presentation to the Council of Ministers, with the political forces, as we have always done”, says the Ministry of Health.

In which places is the health pass currently maintained?

Since March 14, 2022, the health pass has been maintained only in retirement homes, nursing homes, hospitals and establishments welcoming people with disabilities, “except in the event of an emergency”, for all patients or accompanying persons. It should be noted that the vaccination obligation remains the rule for caregivers.

From what age does the health pass apply?

The health pass applies to French people from the age of 12, only to go to health establishments, establishments welcoming people with disabilities or the elderly or medico-social establishments.

There are three possibilities for obtaining the health pass: the first is to have a complete vaccination schedule. It consists of two doses required for the Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca vaccines, only one dose for the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, to which a booster dose is added 4 months after the 2nd injection, except for people who have already contracted Covid-19, or minors. The immunity period after the last injection must also be respected (7 days for Pfizer, Moderna and AstraZeneca, 28 days for Johnson & Johnson). The second is to have a Covid-19 recovery certificate less than 4 months old. Finally, for those who do not wish to be vaccinated, the presentation of a PCR or antigenic test of less than 24 hours is necessary.

What tests to obtain a valid health pass?

PCR, antigen or self-tests under the supervision of a health professional for 24 hours from the date of collection, it is possible to obtain a health pass. These tests are free for French people who have a complete vaccination schedule and for “minors, those with a contraindication to vaccination, those identified in the context of contact tracing made by Health Insurance or TousAntiCovid or even those with a medical prescription or having a certificate of recovery of less than six months”, specifies the Directorate General of Health. Only people who have not been vaccinated or whose vaccination schedule is not complete have to pay 3.35 euros for a self-test carried out in a pharmacy, 20 euros for an antigen test or 44 euros for a PCR test.