It is the miners’ turn to heat their QR code to have a “normal life”. From this Thursday, the obligation to present a health pass to go to certain places extends to a new age group: teenagers. Initially planned by the government on August 30, the obligation was postponed to that date and maintained, despite the decline in the epidemic in metropolitan territory. Concretely, how will this new measure to fight against the coronavirus epidemic be applied?
Who is affected by this new obligation of the health pass?
Until now, the pass only concerned adults. From Thursday, young people aged 12 and two months will also have to present it to access certain places. These two additional months were recorded by the government at the beginning of September, in order to allow everyone to be vaccinated on time. Indeed, as the Health Insurance recalls, “vaccination is open to anyone aged 12 and over”. Without those extra two months, the teenagers who would just blow out their twelve candles would not have had time to come into compliance.
Where will the health pass be required from 12 years old?
Although the government has launched a vaccination campaign in schools since the start of the school year, the health pass will not be required to attend face-to-face classes at college or high school. Young people must present their pass to go to all places where it is also required for adults. They will therefore be asked to eat in a restaurant, have a “lemonade” in a bar, see a movie at the cinema, attend an indoor play, admire paintings in the museum, revise in the library, be afraid in the rooms. haunted houses of the fairgrounds, but also take the train.
As for physical activities, the health pass will now be required as for adults for minors exercising a sport in spaces open to the public. However, it will not be required when the practice of sport is done in the school setting. specifies the government on its site.
Until when will the pass be required for adolescents?
If the obligation to wear a mask in primary school must be lifted from October 4 in the departments least affected by the Covid-19 epidemic, the health pass is currently maintained throughout France. This applies to adults as well as to minors. The government is also in the process of drafting a bill to extend it beyond November 15, the initial date of its judgment.
Where are we with the vaccination of young people?
According to the latest data available, as of September 23, 62% of teens aged 12 to 17 were fully immunized, and 7 in 10 had had at least one dose. 1.4 million minors over 12 are not vaccinated at all. Vaccination in schools remains fairly marginal for the time being with less than 30,000 doses injected in this context, according to figures given on Tuesday by the Ministry of Health.
These figures can be explained in part by the later opening of the vaccination against Covid-19 to minors, but also because this vaccination is sometimes done on the basis of a double agreement, both of the young person concerned and of his parents. From 12 to 15 years old, you need the approval of only one of the two parents, or legal guardians. Minors over 16 can decide to be vaccinated without parental consent.
How to have a valid health pass without being vaccinated when you are young?
As with adults, a valid health pass does not depend solely on the vaccination schedule of its owner. A negative Covid-19 screening of less than 72 hours and a recovery certificate of less than six months also allows you to have a health pass. Small difference with adults: Sunday, Prime Minister Jean Castex indicated that the government wanted to maintain free tests for minors. Indeed, PCR and antigen tests will no longer be reimbursed from October 15, except for medical reasons.