First modification:
The French Executive met on December 27 to reassess the situation created by the rapid progression of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus. During the day, the Government will organize a Defense Council, followed by a Council of Ministers in order to approve a bill for the current health pass to become a vaccination pass.
The announcements last week by the French Prime Minister and Health Minister are taking shape. The advance of the Omicron variant of Covid-19 in the country has caused record numbers of infections and has put the Government in a situation in which stopping it is no longer an option, but controlling it is.
This Monday, December 27, French President Emmanuel Macron meets by videoconference with members of the Executive in a Defense Council and then a Council of Ministers with a view to adopting new measures before the New Year holidays.
One of them is the announced bill that is to be presented so that the health pass used by the French to enter public places becomes a vaccination pass. If approved this Monday, it would take effect before January 15, the date on which the Covid-19 vaccine would be mandatory to access a movie theater or restaurant.
The health pass becomes a vaccination pass
Again, Macron’s agenda is subject to the rhythm of a pandemic. Forced vaccination is, for the French Government, the most consensual decision to face the fifth wave of the coronavirus pandemic.
There is already a day for a day to begin with the vaccination campaign: 12 months after the première injection, 90% of the eligible population is fully vaccinated.
Nous devons you to the mobilization of toute une chaîne humaine: an immense merci! https://t.co/7SMdK9bz0F– Jean Castex (@JeanCASTEX) December 27, 2021
That is what the Executive thinks that, this Monday, it intends to examine the bill to transform the health pass into a vaccination pass. That is to say; A negative Covid-19 test will no longer be enough to enter public places, as it has been done so far.
According to the French newspaper ‘Le Monde’, “the law would be accompanied by additional protection measures inspired by what is done in Germany. A reinforced pass that requires an up-to-date vaccination schedule along with a negative test may be required at sites to be defined. For now, the Government is not considering it in bars and restaurants, but in places with a large population ”.
The National Assembly is expected to begin debating the text this Wednesday, with a view to possible approval in mid-January. The objective of the Government is to convince the disbelievers of the vaccine, since almost 10% of the eligible population in France continues to reject the prick.
The two Councils of this Monday come when the country suffers daily records of infections and the barrier of 100,000 daily was exceeded on Saturday, with 104,611 positive cases, a figure that contrasts with the 27,700 infections that were registered on Sunday, but the answer is in the closure of many laboratories and pharmacies that did not work during the holiday weekend.
A grim scenario for 2022
Mandatory vaccination is a drastic measure, however, the Executive does not plan for now that there will be a curfew for the night of December 31 and does not plan to delay the return to schools after the Christmas holidays, scheduled for December 3 January.
However, what can happen is that the mandatory use of outdoor masks is approved, especially in large cities. In addition, there seems to be a consensus on reducing the quarantine period from 10 to 7 days for those who have been in contact with a positive case, but have full vaccination.
Another recommendation that will be studied is to apply the third dose of the vaccine to adolescents between 12 and 17 years of age with health problems and advance the period of the third dose for the rest.
According to infectious disease specialist Benjamin Davido, Ómicron’s breakthrough raises grim projections within days of the year’s end. “The realistic scenario is that by mid-January we have 200,000 contaminations a day,” he told the ‘CNews’ television network.
With EFE, AFP and local media
.