A busy start for the executive. Matignon announced this Sunday that Prime Minister Jean Castex was planning to bring together ten ministers on Monday to “take stock” of the Omicron variant and its spread in France. While France is reaching contamination records (more than 200,000 positive cases for Covid-19 every day since December 29), new measures come into force on Monday.
The objective of this meeting, which is to be held at 4 pm, is to take stock of the impact of the Omicron variant and the continuity of essential public services, ”said Matignon. “Hospitals, places of education, public transport, administrations, army, police stations and even companies in the energy sector” will be the sectors concerned. The rapid spread of the Omicron variant and the multiplication of positive cases raise fears of paralysis of the country.
The Ministers of Health Olivier Véran, of the Economy Bruno Le Maire, of the Interior Gérald Darmanin, of Education Jean-Michel Blanquer, of Labor Élisabeth Borne, of the Armies Florence Parly, of the Civil Service Amélie de Montchalin, of the Ecological Transition Barbara Pompili, of Transports Jean-Baptiste Djebbari and the government spokesperson Gabriel Attal will participate in this meeting.
New measures this Monday
“This meeting takes place on the day of the implementation of the new isolation rules in order to take into account the extremely rapid evolution of the distribution of the Omicron variant while maintaining the socio-economic life of the country and the sustainability of public services” , recalls Matignon. From Monday, in fact, the positive vaccinated cases will have to isolate themselves between 5 and 7 days, the unvaccinated between 7 and 10 days. The vaccinated contact cases, they see the quarantine removed. Those not vaccinated should self-isolate.
New provisions will come into force on Monday, such as the wearing of a compulsory mask for children from 6 years old, isolation for Covid patients reduced to five days after a negative test, a minimum number of teleworking three days a week for positions where possible, gauges for cultural and sporting shows or even an increase from four to six in the number of children who can be accommodated simultaneously by childminders.