VACCINE PASS. Following the collapse of the Omicron wave, the next measure lifted by the government is the wearing of a compulsory mask in closed places subject to the vaccination pass, with the exception of transport. The end of the health pass is coming soon, according to the latest statements.
[Mis à jour le 25 février 2022 à 14h54] From this Monday, February 28, the mask will no longer be compulsory in closed places subject to the vaccination pass, i.e. in all establishments open to the public, with the exception of long-term transport (TGV, Intercités, night trains, domestic flights). “Wearing a mask indoors will be maintained in transport and closed places not subject to the vaccination pass. In other closed places subject to the vaccination pass, wearing a mask will no longer be compulsory”, explains a Press release published on February 11 by the Ministry of Health.
Regarding other places not subject to the vaccine pass such as public transport or businesses, the Minister of Health Olivier Véran mentioned on February 16 that the end of wearing a mask could take place in these places “in mid-March”. “I’m not saying that we will lighten everything, but probably that in mid-March, we will be able to lighten again if the hospital is in normal operating condition,” he said on France Info. Traveling to Nice on February 17, he mentioned to France Bleu a threshold of “1,500 patients in intensive care” throughout France to end the wearing of masks everywhere indoors. At present, France has fallen below the symbolic threshold of 3,000 patients in intensive care for Covid.
During the traditional press briefing following the Council of Ministers on Wednesday February 23, government spokesperson Gabriel Attal confirmed this lifting of the wearing of masks in enclosed places subject to the vaccination pass this Monday, excluding long-term transport, and indicates that “the next step should be the lifting of the vaccination pass and the obligation to wear a mask indoors” provided the situation is “standardized in hospitals“We could, according to the projections of the Institut Pasteur, reach this by mid-March”, he added, reiterating the words of the Minister of Health on Tuesday February 24 before the Social Affairs Commission of the Senate. Indeed, on February 24, the Minister of Health Olivier Véran mentioned a total or partial lifting of the vaccination pass in mid-March before the Senate Social Affairs Committee, detailing the 3 essential criteria for this abolition. Which are they? In which places is the mask lifted on February 28? What date of the end of the vaccination pass mentioned? What changes to the vaccine pass since February 15 and how to get it? All the answers to your questions.
In which places subject to the vaccination pass will the mask no longer be compulsory?
Government spokesman Gabriel Attal confirmed on Wednesday February 23, on the occasion of a report from the Council of Ministers, that the mask would no longer be compulsory in closed places subject to the vaccination pass outside transport from of this Monday, February 28. The mask will no longer be compulsory in the interior spaces below subject to the vaccination pass, with the exception of transport (TGV, Intercités, night trains):
- Cinemas
- Museums and monuments
- Theaters and other performance halls
- Concert halls and festivals
- Party rooms
- Libraries
- discos
- Trade shows, fairs and seminars
- Restaurants, bars and cafes
- Campsites, hotels and holiday centers
- Casinos and other gaming halls
- Sports establishments (sports hall, gymnasium, ice rink, horse riding stables, etc.)
- Theme parks
- Boat cruises of more than 50 passengers
Long-term transport access to which is subject to the vaccination pass, i.e. TGV, Intercités, night trains, long-distance coaches and domestic flights, is still subject to the wearing of a mask, just like other public transport not subject in the past. Wearing a mask will still apply in businesses, schools and other places where the vaccine pass is not requested.
What is the end date of the vaccination pass?
If, in principle, the law on the vaccine pass is applicable until July 31, 2022, given the improvement in the health situation, the Minister of Health Olivier Véran announced before the Senate on Tuesday February 22 that the pass vaccine could be lifted “in mid-March in all or part of the places where it applies“. But he nevertheless conditioned the end of the vaccination pass on three conditions:
- A normal hospital situation: “We would have to go down to around 1,500 Covid patients in the sheave, for us to consider that the normal functioning of hospitals is restored”, explained Olivier Véran on February 22 before the Social Affairs Commission of the Senate.
- An incidence rate “fairly low, around 300 or 500 at most”.
- The virus reproduction factor R “permanently less than one”.
Where are we in relation to these projections? On Wednesday February 23, government spokesman Gabriel Attal announced a “health horizon” which “is clearing up a little more every day” and an “epidemic collapse” which “is continuing” with, in particular in one week, a number of cases down “by 40%” and an incidence rate now “less than 845 per 100,000 inhabitants”. “In one month, the incidence rate has been divided by more than 4”, he detailed. He also welcomed the improving hospital situation: “over the past week we have crossed a very significant symbolic threshold by falling below 3,000 patients in intensive care for Covid”. Finally, the virus’ reproduction factor R is today “significantly less than 1, which proves that the peak of the epidemic wave of Covid-19 is further and further behind us”. The vaccine pass will most certainly be lifted in “mid-March as announced by Olivier Véran this Tuesday before the Senate”, concluded the government spokesperson.
Given the very favorable Covid-19 epidemic situation, a report of the Senate commission of inquiry on “the adequacy of the vaccination pass to the evolution of the covid-19 epidemic” made public Thursday, February 24 calls for the end of the health system “without delay, but with caution”, pleading however for reversibility conditions if the hospital situation or Covid contaminations increase again.
What changes to the vaccination pass since February 15?
Since February 15, 2022, the French have had to take their booster dose from the moment they have received their last injection for more than 4 months, compared to 7 months so far, on pain of losing their vaccination pass. The measure applies to people aged 18 and over, but there are exceptions to all of this:
French people who have been infected with the Covid virus can keep their vaccination pass without a booster dose. To sum up, if you have injected a single dose of vaccine, but you have been contaminated twice with Covid-19, the vaccination schedule is complete, if you have injected two doses vaccine and you have been infected once with Covid-19, the vaccination schedule is complete. An infection is now equivalent to an injection, except in this very specific case: having been contaminated three times by Covid-19 does not make it possible to have a complete vaccination schedule.
With a deadline for the booster dose shortened to 4 months, the government granted an additional week for latecomers. However, since Wednesday, February 23, this period of tolerance has ended. “Those affected by their potential loss of the pass on February 15, after the seven-day notice period, will lose it today or tomorrow”, said Tuesday February 22 the Ministry of Health. Nearly 3.5 million French people would now find themselves without a vaccination pass, for lack of having completed it with the booster dose. A deliberate choice, motivated by a lifting close to the vaccination pass?
Also since February 15, the validity period of the certificate of recovery after Covid-19 infection has been reduced from 6 months to 4 months. The recovery certificate is “one of the proofs that allows you to have a valid vaccination pass”, had indicated the ministry. This document is only issued to French people infected with Covid-19 more than 11 days ago and therefore less than 4 months (whereas before February 15, less than 6 months).
To obtain the vaccination pass, two conditions: present a complete vaccination schedule (with a booster dose within 4 months from the age of 18, unless you have been contaminated by Covid-19) or a certificate of recovery from Covid-19. 19 dating back at least 11 days and less than 4 months. Negative PCR or antigen tests are no longer valid evidence, unlike the sanitary pass. as concerned by the vaccination pass.