A decree published on Monday sets out the new rules.
All social distancing rules, including the previous rule of "physical distancing of one metre between people" have been ended.
There remains only the obligation of regular washing of hands and covering of the mouth when coughing or sneezing.
Gatherings, meetings or activities on public roads can now be held freely and without special health rules, although prefets remain authorised to "prohibit or restrict" certain gatherings if local circumstances require it.
The most visible measure concerns the wearing of masks: as a general rule, the obligation to wear a mask is lifted in all indoor and outdoor places, whether they are establishments open to the public, businesses, or schools and places such as covered markets.
Wearing a mask is still possible on a voluntary basis, so that in companies in particular an employer cannot prohibit an employee from wearing a mask if s/he wishes. In the first days after lifting of the restrictions, many employees are continuing to wear a mask.
The only exceptions to this lifting of the obligation to wear a mask are health establishments and nursing homes and on public transport, taxis, and carpooling vehicles.
In stations and terminals, the wearing of masks is no longer mandatory, nor in bus or tram stations located on public roads. The mask is therefore only imposed inside vehicles.
On the other hand, the mask remains mandatory "in indoor spaces assigned to public passenger transport and whose access is reserved for holders of a ticket". Concretely, in a metro station for example, the mask is therefore not mandatory in the station before the ticket control gates, but it becomes mandatory once these gates have passed. Similarly, although masks are no longer obligatory in airports they are required once on-board.
Among the places where the obligation to wear a mask is now lifted: bars and restaurants (including for staff), meeting rooms, cinemas, concerts, theatres, conferences, etc., public offices, schools and universities, shops, indoor and outdoor sports facilities and offices.
In shops, the capacity rule of a customer for 8 square metres has gone but once again it remains possible for prefets to reinstate mask wearing obligations in the event of specific local circumstances.
Vaccine and Health Pass
The presentation of the vaccination pass also disappears in almost all cases where it was mandatory. It is now possible to take a train, access public transport, go to the cinema or theatre, restaurant or café, without presenting your QR code.
This is, the government has repeatedly stated, a "suspension" and not a suppression. In other words, the vaccination pass could become mandatory again if circumstances warranted it.
The only places that are exceptions are health establishments (except in case of emergency or to be tested for covid-19), nursing homes, and retirement homes.
The vaccination obligation remains for health staff. For employees, public officials and volunteers who are not subject to the vaccination obligation, the health pass is mandatory to access health establishments.
It now remains to be hoped that the lifting of these measures will be sustainable. Concerns have emerged since last week, when incidence and positivity rates rose again after more than a month when they have been falling. Last week, the number of positive cases increased by 17% over seven days. The incidence rate (over 600 cases per 100,000 inhabitants nationwide) remains very high, but the vast majority of these are now mild cases: critical care admissions and deaths due to covid-19 are still in free fall.
The Minister of Health and the Prime Minister, in interviews they gave last weekend, both speak of an "epidemic rebound" being a possibility due to a sub-variant of Omicron, called BA2. This is more transmissible than the initial Omicron variant, but does not seem more dangerous. Hence the government's decision not to upset the timetable for lifting restrictions.
The Prime Minister also announced over the weekend that the fourth dose of the vaccine would be opened now to people over the age of 80 who received the third dose more than three months ago.
Travel Rules
In terms of travel to France, from either the UK, USA or Europe, no restrictions apply to fully vaccinated travellers, although there remains need for a sworn statement to enter France.
The French governnement states:
'For travelers vaccinated within the meaning of European regulations, no more tests is required on departure. Proof of a complete vaccination schedule becomes sufficient to arrive in France, regardless of the country of origin, as was the case before the distribution of the Omicron variant.
For unvaccinated travellers, the obligation to present a negative test to travel to France remains, but the measures on arrival (test, isolation) are lifted when they come from countries on the "green" list, characterized by a moderate circulation of the virus.
When unvaccinated travelers come from a country on the "orange" list, they must continue to present a compelling reason justifying the need for them to come to mainland France and may still be subject to a random test on arrival. Travelers who test positive will have to isolate themselves.'
As the UK remains one of the few countries on the 'orange list' in France, unvaccinated travellers from the UK need an essential reason and a covid test.
Commencing Friday 18th March travel to the UK from France will become completely unrestricted.
The US government continues to advise against travel to France but the US is now on the 'green list' so there are no restrictions to entry for fully vaccinated travellers. Unvaccinated travellers can travel for any reasons but must show a covid test.
Within Europe you can travel freely provided you are fully vaccinated.
Updates
You can see the latest information from the French government at Certificate of International Travel
The latest advice from the UK government can be found at Travel to and from France
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