End of applause for the state of health emergency more than two years after the start of the health crisis and while the 7th wave is in decline. The system was launched on March 23, 2020 as part of the emergency law introduced to respond very quickly to the Covid-19 crisis.
If its lifting has few concrete consequences, with the main restrictions having already been lifted, it has great symbolic meaning by integrating the management of the pandemic into customary law. In other words, the executive applies long-term management, far from being an exceptional phenomenon.
End of restrictive measures of freedoms
As of August 1, 2022, the government will no longer be able to impose “measures that limit the freedom to come and go, the freedom to do business and the freedom of assembly”, until now allowed by the state of health emergency.
Therefore, it is impossible to launch a new curfew or a new confinement, without having to modify the law again before Parliament.
Nor can the measures of “requisition of all the goods and services necessary to put an end to the health disaster” and “price control” be applied, as well as the health pass or the vaccination pass.
If the mask ceased to be mandatory in public places for several months, it officially disappears from health and medico-social establishments. However, it is still strongly recommended to use it indoors, on public transport and in the presence of frail people.
Possible testing at borders in case of a new variant
In hospitals, facility directors may also choose to maintain the obligation to wear a mask as outlined The world. Within the AP-HP, it is still mandatory.
The Minister of Health can also impose their return to public space by decree “in the event of a serious threat to health requiring emergency measures, in particular in the event of an epidemic threat,” according to the Public Health Code.
The new text of the law on Covid-19, voted in sorrow in the National Assembly and definitively adopted on July 26, allows mandatory testing for people over 12 years of age to enter France from abroad in the event of a new dangerous variant.
A test between mainland France and Corsica or abroad could also be necessary in case of hospital saturation. “Local executives and elected parliamentarians in the community in question must be consulted,” the text further specifies.
Non-reintegration of unvaccinated caregivers
These provisions must be taken following the opinion of the Health Risk Monitoring and Forecasting Committee, which now replaces the Scientific Council. They may be put into force by decree for a maximum period of two months. After this period, they will be voted on by Parliament.
Two epidemic monitoring tools are also expanded: the National Detection Information System (SI-DEP), which centralizes all test results, and Contact Covid, which monitors and supports infected people and their contact cases, is extended until March 31, 2023.
The reinsertion of unvaccinated caregivers is not present in this new law, while it opens the door to their possible reincorporation when the health situation no longer justifies their vaccination obligation.
Source: BFM TV
