New year, new rules – the latest update on Covid 19
Faced with spiking numbers of the new Omicron variant (over 232 000 new cases on New Year’s Eve), the latest measures aim to limit the extent of the 5th wave. Vaccination pass, reduced time for the booster dose, teleworking 3 days a week… here’s a breakdown of what’s what.
Vaccination
The delay for booster eligibility has been brought down to 3 months after your second injection or after having had Covid.
Isolation **updated 02/01/2022**
Positive
Vaccinated
If you are fully vaccinated and test positive for any variant, the isolation period is 7 days from the appearance of your symptoms or, if you are a-symptomatic, from the date of your test. If you took an antigen test, you must also take a PCR test to determine which variant you have.
Isolation can be lifted after 5 days on presentation of a negative test.
Incomplete/unvaccinated
If you are not completely vaccinated or if you are immunocompromised, you must isolate for 10 days.
This can be reduced to 7 i increases to 17 days if you cannot isolate away from the confirmed case.
Contact case
Vaccinated
If you are fully vaccinated, regardless of the variant, there is no isolation period for being a contact case, whether the confirmed case is a member of your household or not.
Incomplete/unvaccinated
If you are not completely vaccinated, which includes not receiving your booster jab within the specified time, or if you are immunocompromised, you must isolate for 7 days. You must have a negative test to come out of isolation after those 7 days.
Télétravail
From Monday 3rd January 2022, teleworking will be obligatory for those who can for a minimum 3 days a week, 4 when possible.
Going out
For 3 weeks following Monday 3rd January, large events will be capped at 2000 people indoors and 5000 people outdoors. Standing concerts and standing consumption in bars and restaurants is no longer allowed.
Consumption of food and drink will also be prohibited in cinemas, theatres, sports facilities and public transport, including long-distance.
Dancing in bars/restaurants continues to be prohibited until 6th January, the same date that nightclubs remain closed until.
Masks
Masks remain obligatory in restaurants, shops and other establishments open to the public. Local prefects will decide whether to enforce mask wearing in town centres.
Pass vaccinal
The pass sanitaire is set to become a pass vaccinal on the 15th January 2022, pending the passing of a new law. This means that to enter an establishment currently requiring a pass sanitaire (bars, restaurants, cinemas, museums etc.), a negative test will no longer be sufficient. Entry will be allowed on proof of vaccination only.
UK-France travel
This was not part of the latest announcements but the current rules remain in place.
Regardless of your vaccination status the following rules apply for travel from the UK to France:
- A compelling reason (motif impérieux) – see list below
- A negative antigen/PCR test of less than 24 hours (self-administered tests NOT accepted)
- Online registration
- Isolation that can be lifted on proof of a negative test after at least 48 hours
Many P-O Life readers, including our very own Kate, have reported that the gendarmes ARE checking and enforcing this 48 hour isolation period.
Compelling reasons for travel
