With the continuous improvement of the epidemic situation in France, the government is continuing the gradual lifting of health restrictions, which began at the beginning of the month.
After the reductions in early and mid-February, health restrictions continue to decrease every two weeks, with a new stage expected from this Monday. Measures justified, according to the government and the High Council for Public Health (HCSP), by the sharp decline in the epidemic and the constant drop in the number of hospitalizations since the peak reached at the end of January.
Wearing a mask
This protection will no longer be compulsory in places subject to the vaccination pass from this Monday. Concretely, no more masks in museums, cinemas or restaurants.
On the other hand, it will remain compulsory in transport, such as the train or the plane, where the pass is also required.
Case contacts
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.
School relief
In schools, after zone B, it is the turn of 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 self-test, two days later, before being able to return to class if he is negative.
Towards the end of the health pass?
Facing the deputies, Thursday, Olivier Véran repeated “to consider a lifting of 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” return to life “normal”which could be considered “in the next weeks”.
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. Currently, 2,546 patients were treated on Friday in critical care services welcoming the most serious forms, or 110 fewer in 24 hours.