The hemicycle of the National Assembly on April 13. – Jacques Witt / SIPA
Tests, curfew … The government adopts this Wednesday its bill to end the state of health emergency in early June, which however allows it to retain powers until October 31 on the movement of people or the closure of stores if sanitary conditions so require. The text, which should make it possible to get out of this exceptional regime extended in February by Parliament until June 1, must be submitted to the National Assembly “around May 10”, according to parliamentary sources. For the moment, however, the government maintains the national curfew from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m.
From June 2 to October 31 inclusive, that is to say for five months, the Prime Minister will have the power to take measures “by decree (…) in the interest of public health and for the sole purpose of combating the spread of the Covid-19 epidemic ”, specifies the bill. It will thus be able to “regulate or, in certain parts of the territory in which an active circulation of the virus is observed, prohibit the movement of people and vehicles (…) subject to travel strictly essential to family, professional and health needs”, such as he did so during the current confinement.
Possible exemptions, but only parts of the territory
“To respond to localized deterioration of the health situation”, the text specifies that the state of health emergency could however be declared until October 31, “in one or more determined territorial districts”, for a period of two months, “provided that these territorial constituencies represent less than 10% of the national population”. “Exemptions” at the end of the curfew could for example be decided according to the health situation, “in areas which can only represent less than 10% of the population”.
The head of government may also impose “mandatory tests for crossing borders”, or even “proof of the administration of a vaccine against Covid-19 or a document certifying (the) recovery” of the person who was contaminated with the virus. If a rebound in the epidemic justifies it again, the Prime Minister will also have the possibility of “regulating the opening to the public” of places such as restaurants, shops or theaters “by guaranteeing people’s access to goods and essential services ”, specifies the text.
The bill grants the head of government the power to “regulate gatherings of people, meetings and activities on public roads and in places open to the public”. The prescribed measures “are strictly proportionate to the health risks incurred and appropriate to the circumstances of time and place”, underlines the document. “It is ended without delay when they are no longer needed,” he says.