COVID LAW. The health bill should be definitively validated on July 25. Here are the main measures of this text and what it will change concretely for the French.
After a meeting in the Joint Joint Committee (CMP), Thursday July 21, 2022, the parliamentarians validated a text for a new “covid law”, via the vote of the 14 elected delegates (7 deputies and 7 senators) this body. The validated text is very close to that which had been modified by the Senate, where LR has the majority. In CMP, LR also has 5 elected officials (while the majority has only 4), which has allowed it to establish a real balance of power very favorable to its positions. The three PS elected members abstained, the RN deputy and the LFI deputy voted against the version of the text, which still leaves possible the possibility of a new rejection of the bill in the hemicycle of the National Assembly: the deputies and then senators must indeed vote on this version of the bill on July 25. It is still very likely that the vote of the elected representatives of the presidential majority and that of the LR deputies will definitively validate this text.
What can we learn from this law?
This law includes a significant reduction in most of the devices used to fight the virus. This new law “on monitoring and health safety in the fight against Covid-19“is not binding, since the government does not intend to put in place drastic measures and put for the time being on the incentive lever. François Braun, the Minister of Health, had moreover confirmed it in the columns from Parisianfavoring the civility of the population: “I want to make our fellow citizens understand that it is important to protect themselves against the virus, but we are not going to redo a law every time there is a wave. We must succeed to adjust our behavior when viral circulation resumes. We will have other waves, scientists tell us. Afterwards, if a new dangerous variant appears…”
In this new bill, which should also make it possible to extend some measures put in place during the health crisis, parliamentarians have protected the maintenance of the SI-Dep database, which lists the test results for Covid-19. This text also leaves the possibility of re-establishing checks, with virological testing, before entering France. Finally, if the High Authority for Health gives its agreement, unvaccinated caregivers could be reinstated in their posts – but this eventuality should not occur in the next few weeks.
What does the new Covid bill provide?
The new draft law on “monitoring and health security in the fight against Covid-19“was validated by parliamentarians, Thursday July 21, 2022. It must still be examined by the National Assembly and by the Senate, Monday July 25 or Tuesday July 26. The deputies voted on a first version of the text on the night of July 12 to July 13, after tumultuous debates, which included an article providing for the end of the state of emergency as well as the extension of the collection and computer processing of screening and contact case data: this collection will be authorized until January 31, 2023 (against March 31, 2023, the date initially provided for by the government text) if the law is definitively adopted.These two points have been validated by the joint committee.
Will a border health pass be required?
The article which provided for the possible establishment of a “border pass”, a sort of health pass at national borders, was rejected by a large part of the deputies of the left, the National Rally and the Republicans. The senators, however, voted for the government the possibility of reestablishing a virological test control on entry into the national territory. In its revised version, the bill establishes a special system: for foreign travelers entering France, a negative test could be required in the event of the appearance of a new variant deemed dangerous. The possibility of a control for people coming from the DOM-TOMs has also been added, it could be introduced if there is a “risk of saturation” of the overseas health system. The text does not provide for any need to present a document justifying a vaccination or Covid recovery to enter France.
The joint joint committee validated this senatorial version, with one exception: in its new version, the bill restores the possibility of requiring a PCR test for minors over 12 at the borders, as well as for travel between Overseas and France.
Any news on wearing a mask?
The bill does not provide for any return of the mask or any new vaccination obligation. At present, nothing has been definitively recorded, but the new health law should not change on this point, wearing a mask should simply be highly recommended in closed spaces and in places with strong mixing, without any constraint.
What does the end of the state of health emergency mean?
The new Covid law will ratify a decision to which the vast majority of parliamentarians consent: the state of health emergency, voted on March 23, 2020, will end on July 31, 2022, after multiple extensions. This particular situation allowed the government to take exceptional measures concerning the restriction of freedom of movement, in particular confinements and curfews, or even the establishment of a health or vaccination pass. With the end of this state of health emergency, the government will have a reduced field of possibilities to fight against the Covid-19 pandemic: it will no longer be able, for example, to make it compulsory to wear a mask in public spaces, or even decree maximum gauges in certain places.
Will unvaccinated caregivers be reinstated?
Suspended in 2021 because they refused to be vaccinated against Covid-19, around 15,000 caregivers still cannot exercise. In the National Assembly, the deputies of France insubordinate and the National Rally supported their reinstatement, pointing to the staffing deficiencies of the public hospital. On this very sensitive point, the senators have changed the bill, entrusting the decision to the High Health Authority (a point validated by the joint joint committee): as soon as this body decides in favor of their reinstatement , unvaccinated caregivers will be “immediately” back to their posts.
Remember that the government has a line on this point: trust the scientific authorities. The Academy of Medicine has already said that it is opposed to the reinstatement of suspended health personnel, pointing out their irresponsibility in this regard in the face of the risks that they would allow their patients to take. And on Friday July 22, HAS returned an opinion “in favor of maintaining the obligation to vaccinate against Covid-19 for personnel working in health and medico-social establishments”. The body does not give this precision, without any timetable: “These recommendations will be updated according to new data available”.