AT As of Monday, February 28, the mask will no longer be compulsory in places subject to the vaccination pass. A further easing of health restrictions expected as the pandemic wanes sharply. No more masks in museums, cinemas, restaurants, but it will remain compulsory in transport, such as the train or the plane, where the pass is also required.
The rules also change for contact and vaccinated people. From now on, only one test is necessary (self-test, PCR or antigen) two days after being declared a contact case, instead of three currently. If the self-test is positive, an antigen or PCR test is still necessary to confirm the result. The duration of isolation remains unchanged in the event of a positive test.
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A return to normal life expected in the coming weeks
In schools, after zone B, it is zone A, back from vacation, which sees the constraints ease. The protocol in schools goes to level 2, which allows the mask to be removed during recess and allows more mixing between students of the same level. From Monday, a child declared a contact case will only have to do one more self-test, two days later, before being able to return to class if he is negative.
Measures justified, according to the government and the High Council for Public Health (HCSP), by the epidemic decline and the constant decline in the number of hospitalizations since the peak reached at the end of January. Facing the deputies on Thursday, Olivier Véran repeated “consider lifting the pass in mid-March” if the decline trajectory is confirmed, particularly in terms of hospitalizations. The Minister of Health considered with “vigilance” and “optimism” the return to normal life, which could be envisaged “in the coming weeks”.
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Pressure eases in hospitals
The decline of the fifth wave that began last fall continues: 25,484 people infected with Covid-19 were hospitalized on Friday, or 634 less than the day before. Among the patients in the hospital, 2,546 are taken care of in the critical care services welcoming the most serious forms, that is to say 110 less in 24 hours. The government mentioned a passage below the threshold of 1,500 patients in critical care by mid-March among the criteria for lifting all or part of the vaccination pass.
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