• Faced with the increase in contamination, in particular due to the spread of the Delta variant of the coronavirus, the government has extended the health pass.

  • From this Wednesday, it will be compulsory, for people over 12 years old, to enter places of culture and leisure gathering more than 50 people.

  • A tolerance is adopted for young people from 12 to 17 years old until August 30 to allow them time to be vaccinated if they wish.

In an attempt to stem the rise in coronavirus contaminations, linked to the circulation of the Delta variant, the government is banking on the health pass, to control the epidemic without closing down establishments open to the public.

Museums, theaters, cinemas, sports hall ... From this Wednesday, French people over 12 years old will have to present a health pass to enter places of culture and leisure gathering more than 50 people.

A decree was published on Tuesday in the Official Journal detailing the new measures.

To understand everything,

20 Minutes

takes stock of the health pass, which comes into force today.

What is a health pass?

According to the government's definition, the health pass "consists of the digital presentation (via the TousAntiCovid application) or paper, of a health proof" proving non-contamination, can we read on the government site. To get a valid health pass, you have three options. You can have a complete vaccination schedule, either seven days after the second injection for double dose vaccines, such as Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca, four weeks after the injection for single injection vaccines, such as Johnson & Johnson, or seven days after injection for vaccines in people who have had the coronavirus - one injection is sufficient.

Second option, you can present a negative PCR or antigen test “less than 48 hours for access to the major events concerned” and less than 72 hours “for border health checks”.

Last solution, a positive PCR or antigen test, attesting to the recovery of Covid-19, "dating from at least 11 days and less than 6 months", which indicates a limited risk of reinfection, explains the government.

To find out how to download your health pass, our journalist has prepared the procedure for you in this article. 

Where is it now compulsory?

The health pass is compulsory, from this Wednesday, to access cultural and leisure establishments and events which "welcome a number of visitors, spectators, customers or passengers at least equal to 50 people", we can read on the decree published this Tuesday.

According to the text, cinemas, theaters, auditoriums, conferences, projection rooms, meetings, shows, marquees and tents, games and dance rooms, exhibitions, fairs and shows, establishments outdoor activities, indoor sports establishments, religious establishments, museums and exhibition halls, libraries, ships and boats, funfairs and amusement parks, cultural, sporting, fun or festive events organized in public space, competitions and sporting events are affected by this measure when there are more than 50 people.

Please note, for theaters and cinemas, for example, the sanitary pass is compulsory for theaters only with more than 50 seats.

Is it compulsory to wear a mask in these places?

In places where the health pass is now mandatory, people "will be able to remove the mask", declared the Minister of Health, Olivier Véran, this Tuesday on RTL, estimating "that we are sure that all the people who return are fully vaccinated or have a very recent negative test ”. Be careful, in some departments, such as the Pyrénées-Orientales, the wearing of a mask has been reimposed by the prefects. In certain events or places, it can also be made compulsory "by the operator or the organizer", clarified Olivier Véran.

Employees working in places open to the public must keep the mask: “Wearing a mask remains the rule in the company.

As the pass is compulsory from August 30 for employees [in places open to the public], it is not currently planned to remove it for these employees, ”explained the Ministry of Labor.

Who is affected by the health pass?

Overall, all people over 12 who wish to access one of these places, if it has more than fifty people, must present a health pass.

However, some exceptions remain.

For young people aged 12 to 17, the health pass will only be compulsory from August 30, as vaccination has only been open to them for a few weeks.

For employees who work in places and establishments open to the public, "their first injection must be carried out no later than August 1," says the government on its site.

Our file on the health pass

How will the health pass be controlled?

The health pass will be scanned with the QR Code with an application called TousAntiCovid Verif. If the document is valid, it will be displayed in green. If applicable, in red. The document showing the surname, first name and date of birth of the person checked, an identity check can be carried out at the same time.

In case of non-compliance, the fine can go up to 1,500 euros for a natural person and 7,500 euros for a legal person, specified the government spokesman, Gabriel Attal.

"At the third reiteration, it becomes an offense that can go up to 1 year and a fine of 9,000 euros for a natural person, 1 year and 45,000 euros for a legal person," he said.

Nevertheless, the government leaves a “running-in period” of “one week” to “support professionals” in setting up the health pass.

What is the timetable for the next measures?

For the rest, the health pass will be extended, from August, to cafes, restaurants, certain shopping centers, hospitals, retirement homes, medico-social establishments, travel by planes, trains and by coach for long distance journeys.

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