In the midst of preparing a new Covid-19 law, the government has just received the opinions of the Council of State and the Consultative Commission on Human Rights (CCDH).
Although it is rather critical of the government’s method, the Council of State is not opposed to the announced relaxation of the measures. Specifically, the government plans to abolish the 11pm curfew for bars and restaurants, end the compulsory CovidCheck at the workplace, and switch back to a 3G regime for leisure activities.
However, the Council of State does question the timing of the measures announced. It argues that while last time, the government tightened measures ahead of the end-of-year festivities, as people are likely to gather in larger groups around that time, it is now preparing to relax measures… ahead of the carnival festivities.
The Council of State is also critical of the end of the compulsory CovidCheck at the workplace only one month after it was introduced. The Council specifies that it is not critical on the substance, but on the form, pointing out that it is impossible to “assess the impact (or lack of impact) that this measure has had on the epidemiological situation within companies and administrations, or on the figures for vaccinations carried out as a result of this specific regime.” This is despite the fact that the measure has required “considerable effort to implement and apply on a daily basis”.
In addition, the Council of State questions why the draft bill only targets private companies, warning the government that this risks creating inequalities which would be in violation of the constitution.
For its part, the CCDH welcomed the government’s willingness to lift certain measures and encouraged it to continue in this direction. On the other hand, the CCDH wonders what the new measures will mean for the planned vaccine mandate. In this context, the CCDH also reiterates its demand for a ‘pandemic law’.
MPs will vote on the new law on Friday. If passed, it will be applicable from the day of its publication in the Official Journal, until 30 April. The relaxed health restrictions could therefore be in force by this weekend.
