What is there in the detail of the contradictory extension of the health passport in France?

The French Constitutional Council has validated most aspects of a new law which, from next week, requires people to have a special Covid-19 health pass to access cafes, restaurants, long trips. distance and, in some cases, to hospitals. However, he overturned several measures for non-compliance with constitutional requirements.

Addressing certain aspects of the health passport that have sparked increasingly virulent protests from opponents in recent weeks, the Constitutional Council decided on Thursday that the automatic 10-day isolation of people infected with the virus did not allow to go out for only two hours a day. , goes against French freedoms.

Such deprivation of liberty is not “necessary, appropriate or proportionate”, according to the judgment. The current, less strict 10-day self-isolation for those infected with the virus, will apparently remain in effect.

The court also overturned the suspension of short-term contracts for people without a health card – while accepting an unpaid suspension for employees on long-term contracts.

The legislation was rushed through parliament last week as Covid infections skyrocketed across France, due to the highly contagious delta variant which now accounts for most cases in the country.

From Monday it will be compulsory for long-distance travel by train, plane or bus, to enter restaurants, cafes and their terraces and rest homes – among a long list established in law and approved in decision.

The special court appeared to wince at the settlement, but ruled that overall a balance was struck between freedom and “the constitutional value of health protection.”

The council also approved a requirement for healthcare workers to be vaccinated against the virus by September 15. And he ruled that requiring the health pass for hospital visitors and others is justified – if it “does not create a barrier to accessing health care.”