The alarming results, then the avalanche of measures. After presenting the catastrophic figures of the fifth wave of
coronavirus, with in particular more than 70,000 cases per day on average in France during the past week, the Prime Minister
Jean Castex wasted no time on Monday following the Health Defense Council to make a series of adjustments in health protocols.
No postponement of the start of the school year, no curfew or even gauges in bars or restaurants. As of Monday, January 3, however, gatherings of more than 2,000 people indoors and 5,000 people outdoors are prohibited – except for political meetings during this time of year.
election campaign -, just like standing concerts, for a minimum of three weeks.
Reduced deadline for the booster dose from Tuesday
Drink standing in the bars and restaurants will also be banned from Monday and for three weeks, as will the consumption of food in cinemas, theaters and long distance trips. Teleworking, when possible, will be made compulsory for a minimum of three days per week from the start of the school year.
The biggest announcement is the reduction in the time before the booster dose, which drops to three months as of Tuesday morning. Will it take a fourth dose? “It’s a possibility, I don’t have the answer today,” acknowledged Olivier Véran.
Reduction of the isolation protocol for contact cases
Facing a Omicron variant much more transmissible and contagious, and faced with the explosion of cases and contact cases, society risks being disorganized, admitted the Prime Minister and the Minister of Health. As a result, the isolation rules for patients and contact cases – which require, for the moment, to isolate oneself whether or not vaccinated for 7 days in case of suspicion of Omicron – will be reduced “for the vaccinated” by the end of the week, declared the Minister of Health.
The rest of the press conference was a classic reminder of the importance of vaccination, the desire to keep schools open – the start of the school year is maintained on January 3, 2022 – and the necessary respect for barrier gestures to hope to get out of this crisis as quickly as possible.