"Health pass" in France: the government seeks to reassure
The epidemic wave can "rise very quickly and it can rise very high", warned government spokesman Gabriel Attal on Monday evening, before detailing the consequences of the progression of the Delta variant in France which now represents "80% of contaminations. ".
REUTERS - GONZALO FUENTES
Text by: RFI Follow
7 mins
Faced with "
a virus that contaminates at lightning speed
", the Council of Ministers adopted Monday, July 19 the bill including the obligation to vaccinate caregivers and extending the "health pass", with some relaxations on fines and controls.
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This text, which will begin its way to Parliament on Tuesday before a possible adoption at the end of the week, is presented when the French have already taken the road to vaccinodromes en masse, but also when the anger of anti-“health pass” is mounting.
The epidemic wave can "
rise very quickly and it can rise very high
", warned government spokesman Gabriel Attal on Monday evening, before detailing the consequences of the progression of the Delta variant in France which now represents "
80% of contaminations.
".
The incidence "
continues to explode
", to 86 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, "
an increase of nearly 125% in one week,
" said Mr. Attal in particular, referring to an unprecedented increase "
since the start of the epidemic
".
A week after Emmanuel Macron's announcements, on which the Head of State plays a good part of his credit for the 2022 presidential election, the bill was adopted Monday evening by incorporating some reservations from the Board of state.
►
To read also:
"Health pass" in France: the Council of State validates but relaxes the bill
"Break-in period"
In particular, it provides for the extension of the "health pass" (proving complete vaccination, a recent negative test or immunization), in particular to cafes, restaurants and trains "
from the beginning of August
".
But uncertainties remain as to its application to shopping centers: the government wishes to maintain the obligation to present it in the largest establishments, but must find the right formula, taking into account the opinion of the Council of State which considers that the he access to basic necessities must be guaranteed.
This crisis is unprecedented.
Our will to live calls for new solutions ...
Gabriel Attal assumes to take unprecedented measures
Anthony Lattier
The contravention, in the event of a first breach of the obligation to control the “health pass”, may go “
up to
1,500 euros
”, which is much less than the fine of 9,000 euros initially envisaged, but rebutted by the state Council.
In all cases, the government provides for a "
running-in period
" of limited duration, evoking "
a week
" or "
a little more
", in order to "
accompany the professionals
" in the implementation of the pass, specified Mr. Attal.
If the compulsory 10-day isolation for all people sick with Covid-19 has been validated by the Council of State, there will be no control of its compliance by the police between 11:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. in the morning, in accordance with the recommendations of the court.
The obligation of isolation for people who test positive may lead to circumvention phenomena ...
Professor Didier Houssin, member of the Covid-19 cell of the National Academy of Medicine
Valerie Cohen
The text will be examined Tuesday in committee at the National Assembly, then Wednesday afternoon in the hemicycle.
On Wednesday morning, the Head of State will hold a new Defense Council dedicated to Covid-19.
Prime Minister Jean Castex will then be the guest at 1:00 p.m. on TF1.
It will be Thursday the turn of the Senate, dominated by the right, to examine the text with a view to final adoption by the end of the week, at the end of the extraordinary session in July.
Deputies and senators could quite quickly agree on this text which is the subject on its principles of a fairly broad approval, except La France insoumise and the National Rally.
►
To read also:
Thousands of people in the streets of France against vaccination and the health pass
However in the detail of the measures, the elected officials of the left, of the right and also of the presidential majority have reservations.
Socialist deputies and senators say "
yes to compulsory vaccination but no to
the government's
health pass
".
After the senatorial right, the rebellious deputies indicated on Monday their wish to seize the Constitutional Council on the bill which establishes in their eyes a society "
of control which destroys confidence
" and "
divides
".
(With
AFP
)
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Coronavirus
France
Emmanuel Macron
Vaccines
Society