In view of a record number of corona infections, France is making full vaccination a prerequisite for attending events, restaurants or long-distance travel. From January 15, a negative test for the nationwide Corona passport will no longer be recognized, as Prime Minister Jean Castex said on Monday evening in Paris. It is about preventing an overload of the health system and a serious disruption of the economy. Parliament still has to approve the tightening.
The planned change means that the majority of people will need a booster vaccination. This can be done immediately three months after the immunization. After seven months at the latest, it was already compulsory for the Corona passport. However, unlike in Germany, most shops in France are still accessible without a vaccination certificate.
Mask compulsory in the city center
As a further step against the expected wave of corona infections with the highly contagious Omicron variant, Castex announced that a mask is required in city centers. For cultural and sporting events, the number of spectators is limited to 2,000 inside and 5,000 outside. An obligation to work from home applies in companies where it is possible to work from home, three days a week during the first three weeks of January – four days where possible. The consumption of beverages and food in local transport, in sports facilities and in cinemas is prohibited, in restaurants it is only allowed to drink and eat while seated.
“We will do everything we can to speed up the vaccination and to reach and convince unvaccinated people,” said Castex. The vaccination is the decisive means in the fight against the pandemic, as it protects against severe courses and overloading the clinics.
Vaccination rate of 90 percent
Nine out of ten people who are eligible for vaccination are vaccinated in France. Most recently, the seven-day incidence, i.e. the number of registered infections per 100,000 inhabitants within a week, was 712. The number of sick people continued to rise, albeit moderately.
Meanwhile, schools in France should reopen on January 3rd as planned, distance teaching is not planned. The Prime Minister said there would be no exit restrictions on New Year’s Eve either. By the end of the week, a decision will be made to shorten the quarantine obligation so that cases of infection and contact do not slow down economic life more than necessary. (SDA)