Coronavirus: Olivier Véran hopes to be able to do without a "health pass" to reopen bars and restaurants (Archives) -

Raphael Lafargue / SIPA

Bars, restaurants and other places open to the public could "reopen gradually" without resorting to a "health pass", said Wednesday the Minister of Health, Olivier Véran, who in the meantime is betting on "satisfactory vaccination coverage".

Mentioned by Emmanuel Macron at the end of February, the "sanitary pass" presented as a key to the reopening of cultural places and restaurants, still faces many obstacles.

"It raises important ethical, scientific, legal (and) technical questions", acknowledged Olivier Véran during a debate on the health crisis in the National Assembly.

"Satisfactory vaccination coverage of the population"

Several deputies challenged the minister on this subject, starting with the chairman of the Economic Affairs Committee Roland Lescure (LREM), "convinced that the establishment of a" health pass "will reopen cultural and sports activities, and also tourism, which we need more than ever to support the recovery ”.

Responding to Jean-François Eliaou (LREM) on a possible restricted access to only people vaccinated against Covid-19, Olivier Véran indicated that "it is not the opinion of the government at this stage", even if work is in progress and that "we'll see what comes out of it."

But "I think that by the time this debate is mounted, we will have vaccination coverage that will be satisfactory for the population," he added.

The government expects 10 million adults who have received at least one dose of anti-Covid vaccine by mid-April, then 20 million in mid-May and 30 million in mid-June.

By then "I think we will be out of the wave and therefore we will already be able to reopen a number of places," predicted the Minister of Health.

Reopening "in descending order of dangerousness"

This will be done "gradually" and "in decreasing order of danger with regard to viral contamination," he said.

The oppositions of right and left have denounced in unison a lack of “transparency” of the government and highlighted “contradictory” announcements, in particular on the AstraZeneca vaccine and travel certificates.

Michel Zumkeller (UDI) deplored a "lack of anticipation", the communist Pierre Dharréville wishing a "less presidentialized management" of the crisis.

The meager presence of deputies in the hemicycle despite the seriousness of the subject also stirred the exchanges, some elected officials questioning the weak consideration of the executive for parliamentary work.

Olivier Véran noted that he spent “three hours answering” to the deputies and that he would come back “each time” that he was summoned by them.

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