Just not for the unvaccinated
France is lifting numerous corona rules
01/20/2022, 21:34
Restrictions on sport and culture will soon be lifted in France, and discotheques will also be allowed to open again. In the midst of the omicron wave, the country is relaxing its corona measures. Stricter rules only apply to the unvaccinated – they are excluded from large parts of public life.
France is gradually easing the corona restrictions in February and at the same time significantly tightening the rules for unvaccinated people from Monday. With the introduction of the nationwide vaccination and recovery certificate, they will then no longer have access to restaurants, cultural sites, sporting events and long-distance transport, as announced by Prime Minister Jean Castex.
For all people over the age of 16, full vaccination is a prerequisite for unrestricted participation in public life. People who decide to have their first vaccination by mid-February can then temporarily continue to submit an additional negative test as an admission requirement.
Despite the currently high number of infections, the high vaccination rate protects the clinics from overload, said Castex. 93 percent of adults are vaccinated and one million people chose to be immunized after the 2G rules were announced. From February 2nd, the capacity restrictions for sports and cultural facilities could therefore be lifted – as could mask regulations outdoors. The home office obligation will be converted into a recommendation. Discotheques will be allowed to open again on February 16, and eating and drinking on trains will also be allowed again.
The prime minister also announced a relaxation of mask and testing regulations in schools for February. These are cumbersome, Castex conceded, but would have made it possible to keep the schools open with only a few closed classes.
The proof of vaccination and recovery still needs the approval of the Constitutional Council, which wants to deal with the “Passe vaccinal” on Friday. The government does not anticipate objections. The application of the 2G regulation has been approved by law until July. However, it will be lifted as soon as the situation relaxes and the influx of new corona patients into the clinics has dried up, said Castex.
In France, the nationwide incidence is currently more than 3,200 cases per 100,000 inhabitants in one week. About 95 percent of cases are attributed to the omicron variant of the coronavirus. While the number of hospital admissions continues to rise, the number of Covid intensive care patients is gradually declining.