France: as of 15 September new measures will apply to people vulnerable to Covid-19

The French health pass (pass sanitaire) was officially taken into account on 09 August when the national health protocol was updated. This protocol specifies certain measures that will apply to employees who are particularly susceptible to developing severe forms of Covid-19. If vaccinated ‘Covid-19 vulnerable’ staff can return to work, including in ‘in presence’ work settings, then employers have to put additional health protection measures in place with reinforced security conditions, such as the provision of an individual office, Covid separation screens, and workstation cleaning and disinfecting (as a minimum at the start and end of work shifts), as well as potentially altering staff arrival and departure times. Effective as of 15 September the new national protocol provides for measures encompassing partial work and work exemptions. These measures apply to those who cannot work remotely if that would place them in a situation where they would likely be exposed to high virus densities, as well as to staff who are severely immunocompromised and to those with a medical contraindication to vaccination. These workers have to hold a ‘certificate of isolation’ that has been issued by the relevant physician (local, town, workplace). A new certificate of isolation will have to be issued for those who already had one between May 2020 and August 2021.