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May

2021

Covid-19 Bulletin no. 43 – 30 April 2021 – Details for Lifting of Lockdown

Welcome to our forty-third bulletin during the Coronavirus epidemic. In this bulletin we give details of the four stages of deconfinement in France, beginning on Monday 3rd May. The calendar at the bottom of this bulletin (in French) gives you an at-a-glance picture of what changes and when.

On Thursday 29 April, President Macron published details of the timetable for the gradual ending of the current restrictions due to Covid-19. This will involve four major stages.

Stage 1 : from 3 May 2021

The 19h00-06h00 curfew remains in place.
Working from home wherever possible remains recommended.
Non-essential shops remain closed.
Secondary schools re-open with 50% home schooling, 50% presence in class for 4eme and 3eme.
Lycées re-open with 50% home schooling, 50% presence in class.
No attestations will be needed for travel outside curfew hours.
Travel between regions is permitted.

Stage 2 : from 19 May 2021

Curfew will be from 21h00 (9 pm) to 06h00.
Working from home wherever possible is still recommended.
Re-opening of non-essential shops with limits on number of customers.
Re-opening of terraces (bars and restaurants) with a maximum of 6 people per table.
Re-opening of museums, monuments, cinemas, theatres, concert halls with seated audiences. Maximum of 800 indoors and 1000 outdoors.
Re-opening of indoor and outdoor sports venues with spectators limited to 800 people indoors and 1000 people outdoors.
Indoor sporting activities are permitted.
Meetings of more than 10 people are banned.

Stage 3 : from 9 June 2021

Curfew from 23h00 (11pm) to 06h00
Working from home is optional.
Re-opening of cafes and restaurants with a maximum of 6 people per table.
Up to 5000 people allowed in places of worship and sporting venues (with a yet to be confirmed suitable health certificate/negative test/vaccination passport).
Re-opening of sporting clubs and gyms, including indoor contact sports.
Re-opening of exhibition centres, up to a maximum of 5000 people.
Foreign tourists visiting France will be allowed with (yet to be confirmed) health certificate/negative test/vaccination passport.

Stage 4 : from 30 June 2021

Curfew will be discontinued.
No limit on numbers in places open to the public but social distancing and masks will still be required.
Indoor and outdoor events with more than 1000 people will be permitted, with health certificate/negative test/vaccination passport (yet to be confirmed).
Upper limit of public attendance for events will be based on the nature of the events and the local Covid-19 health situation.
Nightclubs will remain closed.

Cancer Support France-Languedoc (CSF-L), Covid-19 response

CSF-L continues to support English speakers touched by cancer in the Hérault and Aveyron, as well as extending support to people touched by Covid-19 during the crisis. In line with guidance, this is done at distance. Our Helpline can be reached on 04 67 44 87 06. (This is a voicemail service and we aim to return calls within 24 hours of a message being left).

If there is information you would like to share with others, please contact us using our email address: feedback.csflanguedoc@gmail.com

We hope you stay safe and well.

May

2021

Covid-19 Bulletin no. 42 – Lifting of Lockdown

Restrictions being lifted on a step-by-step basis

Welcome to our forty-second bulletin during the Coronavirus epidemic.

On Thursday evening 22 April 2021, Prime Minister, Jean Castex, announced “the peak of the third wave seems to be behind us”.

The number of daily new cases has fallen by 17% in the last week although it remains just over 30,000 per day. This decrease is particularly noticeable in Ile-de-France, Hauts-de-France and Alpes-Maritime but the virus is still active in most of France. He stressed that the situation is “still fragile” and the re-opening of the country will be “step by step, prudent and progressive”.

The easing of restrictions comprises:

The limit of activity to within 10km of home will be lifted as from 3rd May.

The curfew – 19h00 to 06h00 – will be maintained up to mid-May.

Depending on the evolution of the virus, non-essential businesses could begin to re-open in mid-May, starting with non-essential shops, some cultural and sporting activities and terraces of bars and restaurants. The aim is for all business to return to normal by the beginning of summer.

Schools

Primary schools will re-open on 26th April.
Secondary schools will begin distance-learning as from 26th April with normal school attendance starting from 3rd May. However, if just one pupil in a class tests positive, the whole class will be closed.
Some 2021 baccalaureate exams (philosophy and oral) will require attendance in person, as will the brevet exams.
Strict hygiene rules will be in place in schools. 400,000 saliva tests will be distributed starting with the departments with the highest infection rates.
64 million self-testing kits will be available for teaching staff (twice weekly), then for sixth-form pupils (weekly) from 10th May.

Stricter border controls

People arriving from Brazil, Argentina, Chile, South Africa, and India will have to show a negative PCR test result less than 36 hours old. They will be re-tested on their arrival, followed by 10 days quarantine.

Vaccinations

By the end of this week, 24th April, 14 million people will have had at least one dose of the vaccine, representing a quarter of the adult population. More than 70% of people over 75 have had at least the first dose.
A new fourth vaccine (Johnson & Johnson) will be available for those over 55 as from Saturday 24th April. 200,000 doses were received at the end of last week, but distribution was delayed until the final decision, on 20th April, of the EMA (European Medicines Agency) who have now decided that the benefits of the vaccine outweigh the minute risk of blood clots.
New addition to elibigility list: From Monday 26th April, vaccination will be available to the families of people with immune deficiency illnesses. This will concern several hundreds of thousands of people in France.
Consultation is taking place as to whether to extend the eligibility for vaccination to people under 50 with severe obesity who have a high risk of a serious form of Covid-19. A decision will be taken soon, and vaccination could begin in mid-May.

If you have not yet had a vaccination, you can sign up on covidliste.com to receive an alert for an available dose near you.

Cancer Support France-Languedoc (CSF-L), Covid-19 response

Apr

2021

Covid-19 Bulletin no. 41 – New Restrictions

Welcome to our forty-first bulletin during the Coronavirus epidemic.

President Macron made the following announcement on Wednesday evening 31 March 2021:

The situation is now critical with more than 5,000 serious Covid-19 cases in intensive care, worse than the peak of the second wave. New restrictions will be in place for the whole of France during the month of April.

Click here for the entire bulletin.

Apr

2021

Covid-19 Bulletin no. 40 – Increased restrictions

Welcome to our fortieth bulletin during the Coronavirus epidemic. In this issue we have information about:

On Thursday 25 March 2020 Prime Minister Jean Castex made the following announcement regarding updated conditions in France

Click here for the entire bulletin.

Apr

2021

Covid-19 Bulletin no. 39 – 16 departments under lockdown

Welcome to our thirty-ninth bulletin during the Coronavirus epidemic. In this issue we have information about:

16 departments under lockdown for one month: NOT including Herault and Aveyron.
Curfew pushed back to 19h00 for the whole of France
The PM encourages all businesses and administration offices to increase working from home.
The AstraZeneca vaccine authorised from Friday 19th March.
Vaccine roll-out

Click here for the entire bulletin.

Mar

2021

Covid-19 Bulletin no. 38 – Latest Restrictions in France

Welcome to our thirty-eighth bulletin during the Coronavirus epidemic. In this issue we have information about:

Virus still spreading across Europe, but not as quickly as feared
Three new departments under stricter restrictions – not Herault or Aveyron
Astra Zeneca vaccine approved in France

French Prime Minister Jean Castex announced on Thursday 4 March the following updates on Covid 19 in France:

The Virus is still spreading across Europe, but not as quickly as was feared.
Three new departments have been added to the 20 already under stricter restrictions (including weekend lockdowns), but these do not include the Herault or Aveyron, nor any departments adjacent to us.
As of 1 March, the AstraZeneca vaccination has been approved for use in
people between 50 and 74, with comorbidities. It appears that some GPs are being flexible about the definition of “comorbidities”. Please check with your GP to check the situation locally.
AstraZeneca has been approved to be administered from pharmacies. It joins the Pfizer-BioNtec and Moderna brands which are available at centres with appropriate cold storage.
As from 15th March, people over 50 with comorbidities (ie, other underlying health conditions) will be able to be vaccinated in pharmacies with the AstraZeneca brand.
People aged 50-74 without comorbidities will eligible for the vaccine as from mid-April.

Cancer Support France-Languedoc (CSF-L), Covid-19 response

Feb

2021

Annual General Meeting

Our Annual General Meeting is taking place this Thursday, 18th February at 2.30 pm via Zoom.

This year voting is online.

If you are not a member of CSF-Languedoc and would like to become a member, or need help attending via Zoom and/or voting, please contact Jackie at secretary.csflanguedoc@gmail.com.

Feb

2021

Covid-19 Bulletin no. 37

Welcome to our thirty-seventh bulletin during the Coronavirus epidemic. In this issue we have information about:
-PM Castex’s latest announcement about C-19 restrictions in France
-Shopping centres closed in the Herault
-New advice about masks
-Further advice on vaccinations Information about GHIC and EHIC cards

Prime Minister’s Announcement
At 8pm on Friday 29 January 2021 French Prime minister Jean Castex made the following announcement relating to Covid 19 and the restrictions in France:

The pandemic continues to be severe in France. The R rate (the rate of reproduction of the virus) is 1.12 and 60% of intensive care beds are full of Covid patients. PM Castex is offering one last chance to avoid another lockdown and invites people to continue to be vigilant. The 6pm curfew across France will remain in place for the time being He is not ruling out another lockdown in future An almost total ban on travel to and from non-EU countries has been introduced (this includes the UK) Those traveling between EU countries are required to produce a negative Covid 19 test – this is compulsory Businesses are encouraged to increase opportunities for employees to work from home Non-food shops over 20,000 square metres are to shut from Monday.

Shopping centres closed in the Herault
The following shopping centres are closed, with only the food shops and pharmacies remaining open. In addition, click and collect services are suspended but deliveries are authorised.

Montpellier The Odysseum shopping centre. The Polygone shopping centre, Béziers The Polygone shopping centre. The Auchan shopping centre (Auchan itself remains open) Lattes The Carrefour shopping centre (Carrefour itself remains open)..
Those shops permitted to open are required to enforce limits on customer numbers, and the police are being requested to enforce the rules.
Lycees will remain open.

Masks
There is new advice (though this is not a compulsory directive) on the types of face mask which provide the most protection – particularly from the UK variant of the virus, an announcement on 19 January said.

It is suggested that cloth masks provide insufficient protection and, if you wear a cloth mask you should additionally wear a paper surgical mask.

An alternative would be to use a professional FFP2 mask which are now easily available to buy on the internet at 1 euro each. Use this link to purchase yours. https://www.medisafe.fr/produits-d-hygiene/usage-unique/masque/masques-ffp2.html

Vaccinations
Those aged 75 or over, or with conditions which cause vulnerabilities, are eligible for a vaccine.

Despite the much publicised shortage of vaccines, it is still possible (though challenging) to get appointment via www.sante.fr.

The Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) – a summary of post-Brexit Arrangements
Here we bring you up to date on current information and outline how you are covered from 1 January 2021 for health care that becomes medically necessary during a stay in another EU country or in the UK.

For those who live in the UK, the current EHIC card has been replaced by a new GHIC card.

People living in the UK will be able to use their existing EHICs until they expire, at which point they will apply for the new GHIC. The GHIC offers almost the same cover as the previous EHIC, but with one difference; unlike the EHIC it can’t be used in Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Switzerland.

For UK nationals living in Europe, the EU-issued EHIC will continue to be valid if you travel to the UK, as well as in other EU states, as it is now. Nothing will change for you and you do not need to take any specific action.

A reminder that the EHIC only covers the cost of treatment which becomes medically necessary during your stay outside your host country. This includes: emergency treatment and visits to A&E treatment for a long-term or pre-existing medical condition routine medical care for pre-existing conditions that need monitoring oxygen and kidney dialysis Some treatments need to be pre-arranged with the relevant healthcare provider in the country you are visiting, for example kidney dialysis or chemotherapy.

You will be reimbursed on the same basis as a national of the country you’re visiting. This means that in some countries you may need to pay a proportion of the cost of the health care you receive.
For more information, see the UK Government’s page. https://www.nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/healthcare-abroad/apply-for-a-free-uk-global-health-insurance-card-ghic/

Cancer Support France-Languedoc (CSF-L), Covid-19 response

CSF-L continues to support English speakers touched by cancer in the Hérault and Aveyron, as well as extending support to people touched by Covid-19 during the crisis. In line with guidance, this is done at distance. Our Helpline can be reached on 04 67 44 87 06. (This is a voicemail service and we aim to return calls within 24 hours of a message being left).

If there is information you would like to share with others, please contact us using our email address: feedback.csflanguedoc@gmail.com

We hope you stay safe and well.

Feb

2021

Covid-19 Bulletin no. 36

Welcome to our thirty-sixth bulletin during the Coronavirus epidemic. In this issue we have information about: Are you eligible for a vaccination as a high risk patient? How to get a vaccination How to use Doctolib to book your test List of Vaccination centres in the Herault What is a PCR Test? Are you eligible for a vaccination as a high risk patient? If you are a cancer patient currently receiving chemotherapy, you are eligible for a free vaccination. The other high-risk categories are: people with severe chronic kidney disease, including dialysis patients; people with solid organ transplants; people with stem cell transplantation; people with chronic multiple pathologies and with at least two organs failing; people suffering from certain rare diseases and particularly at risk in the event of infection (specific list drawn up by the COS and the rare diseases health sectors); people with Down’s syndrome. See below for instructions on how to book your test, or speak to your Active Listener to arrange help.
How to get a Vaccination- available to those over age 75 and those with high-risk health problems Appointments can be made at your nearest vaccination centre online as from 08h00 on Friday15 January via the government website – www.sante.fr – the link provides full information. You may prefer to use other websites for appointments such as – Doctolib, Maiia or Keldoc. Feedback indicates that using these sites can be quicker and more straitghforward. Instructions for making an appointment on Doctolib are shown below. Online appointments can be made on your behalf by a third party if you do not have internet access. The address and telephone number of your nearest vaccination centre can be obtained from your GP, your local pharmacy or in the local newspaper. You can make an appointment in one of the vaccination centres to receive the first dose of the vaccine if: You show no symptoms of current infection You have not been in contact with anyone infected in the last 7 days You have not been given another type of vaccination during the last 14 days. You have no history of severe allergies. A national telephone number – 0800 009 110 – is available. This number will be available from 06h00 to 22h00 and calls will be transferred to your nearest vaccination centre. For the second dose of the vaccine, the vaccination centre where you received the first dose will give you an appointment. Because of the high demand, it will not be possible to use the online service to book an appointment for the second dose. How to use Doctolib to book your vaccination Doctolib is an online appointment service. Click here to go to the site. https://www.doctolib.fr

Step 1 After you have clicked on the link you will be taken to the page illustrated below.

Step 2 In the left box ‘COVID-19 vaccination let’s go’, click on the blue box, ‘MAKE AN APPOINTMENT’. This will open a box entitled ‘Preferred location?’. Type in the first two letters of your nearest town or city and select from the list of places that appears (see list below for towns with testing centres). Select your centre. This will bring up details of that centre together with a map and the box “Book your appointment online” as shown below:

Having clicked on ‘MAKE AN APPOINTMENT’ continue to fill in the details requested – Under ‘2 Reason for Consultation select ‘1st Covid-19 vaccine injection’ Then under ‘3 Select appointment’ select the date and time you would like to have your appointment (use ‘SEE MORE SCHEDULES’ for more dates and times). AT THIS POINT you may have a message saying ‘All vaccination appointments have already been booked. New availabilities will be available in the coming days.’ When you have selected your appointment, the following screen will appear – you now need to register or log in (if you already have a Doctolib account.) Once you have registered (or logged in), you will be able to confirm your appointment.

Use this link to help you to register with Doctolib. https://www.doctolib.fr/help?origin=help-desktop#section=0&article=0 or ask your Active Listener for help.

CSF-L has developed a guidance note to help you to register which you will find on the Members page of our website shortly.
List of Vaccination centres in the Herault Ganges : clinique Saint-Louis Saint-Martin-de-Londres : salle des Rencontres Saint-Clément-de-Rivière : clinique du Pic-Saint-Loup Lunel : hôpital La Grande-Motte : centre culturel (non permanent) Vailhauquès : service départemental d’incendie et de secours Saint-Jean-de-Védas : clinique Saint-Jean Sète : centre de vaccination, route de Cayenne Pézenas : hôpital Agde : hôpital Saint-Loup Béziers : salle Zinga Zanga Cessenon : maison de santé (non permanent) Olonzac : centre de secours des pompiers (non permanent) Saint-Pons-de-Thomières : centre de secours des pompiers Clermont-l’Hérault : centre hospitalier Lodève : maison de santé publique du Lodévois Gignac : lieu à arrêter Castelnau-le-Lez : clinique du Parc Montpellier CHU maison médicale de garde de la rue des Tourterelles centre Bouisson-Bertrand clinique du Millénaire centre municipal de vaccination, 2 place Paul-Bec For more information, click on this link. https://www.midilibre.fr/2021/01/13/coronavirus-le-biterrois-se-prepare-a-la-vaccination-9307903.php

What is a PCR Test? PCR testing for Covid-19 is considered the “gold standard” in SARS-CoV-2 detection. This test detects RNA (or genetic material) that is specific to the virus and can detect the virus within days of infection, even in those who have no symptoms. It requires a sample from the most accessible place where the concentration of virus is the greatest, that is to say the nasopharynx, behind the nostrils. This is the level of test required for any non-EU national (British included) travelling into France.
Cancer Support France-Languedoc (CSF-L), Covid-19 response CSF-L continues to support English speakers touched by cancer in the Hérault and Aveyron, as well as extending support to people touched by Covid-19 during the crisis. In line with guidance, this is done at distance. Our Helpline can be reached on 04 67 44 87 06. (This is a voicemail service and we aim to return calls within 24 hours of a message being left).

If there is information you would like to share with others, please contact us using our email address: feedback.csflanguedoc@gmail.com

We hope you stay safe and well.

Feb

2021

Covid-19 Bulletin no. 35

Welcome to our thirty-fifth bulletin during the Coronavirus epidemic. In this issue we have information about:

The tightening of the curfew throughout France
Rules for entering France from a non-EU country
Heightened measures for schools and universities
Vaccination programme in France available to those over age 75 and those with high-risk health problems
List of Vaccination centres in the Herault

The tightening of the curfew throughout France

Although the number of daily positive tests is dropping, they are still four times greater than the government’s target of 5,000 per day. The Christmas/New Year celebrations did not lead to a spike in infections but the virus is still active and hospitals are still under pressure. The new British variant of the virus is more contagious (although it does not lead to more serious health problems).

The following measures will be effective from Saturday 16th January 2021:

There will be a national curfew between 18h00 and 06h00 from Saturday 16^th January 2021 for at least 2 weeks.
All public places, including shops, will have to shut at 18h00.
New exemption certificates will be necessary after 18h00 for returning home from work or picking up children from school.
Should the situation worsen, the possibility of a new lockdown is not ruled out.

Rules for entering France from a non-EU country

It will be compulsory for anyone entering France from a non-EU country to show a negative Covid-19 test (PCR test not the quick turnaround test).
New arrivals will be required to self-isolate for 7 days and show another negative test at the end of that period.

Heightened hygiene measures in schools and universities.

New measures will be put in place to reduce the possibility of pupils mingling with other classes during mealtimes.
Interior sporting activities, both in school and non-school are suspended until further notice.
Lycées (sixth form colleges) will continue to use a mixture of home learning and physical attendance in class.
Universities – classes in groups of half the normal size will re-start from 25th January 2021.

For further information on the rules from 16th January, click here: https://www.gouvernement.fr/info-coronavirus

Vaccination programme in France available to those over age 75 and those with high-risk health problems

The vaccination programme is now extended to over-75s and high risk patients. As from Monday 18th January, people over age 75 and those at high risk can request vaccination. For people with cancer, they are counted as high-risk if undergoing chemotherapy.
From Monday 18th January there will be more than 700 vaccination centres open nationally. 300,000 people have already been vaccinated.
There will be enough doses available at the end of February to vaccinate 2.5 million more. If new vaccines are approved in the EU and in France, there will be 4 million doses available.
You can make an appointment in one of the vaccination centres to receive the first dose of the vaccine if:

You show no symptoms of current infection You have not been in contact with anyone infected in the last 7 days You have not been given another type of vaccination during the last 14 days. You have no history of severe allergies.

Appointments can be made at your nearest vaccination centre online as from 08h00 on Friday15 January via the government website – www.sante.fr provides full information.
Other websites for appointments are – Doctolib, Maiia or Keldoc
The address and telephone number of your nearest vaccination centre can be obtained from your GP, your local pharmacy or in the local newspaper.
Online appointments can be made on your behalf by a third party if you do not have internet access.
A national telephone number – 0800 009 110 – will be available from Friday 15th January. This number will be available from 06h00 to 22h00 and calls will be transferred to your nearest vaccination centre.
For the second dose of the vaccine, the vaccination centre where you received the first dose will give you an appointment. Because of the high demand, it will not be possible to use the online service to book an appointment for the second dose.

List of Vaccination centres in the Herault

Ganges : clinique Saint-Louis
Saint-Martin-de-Londres : salle des Rencontres
Saint-Clément-de-Rivière : clinique du Pic-Saint-Loup
Lunel : hôpital
La Grande-Motte : centre culturel (non permanent)
Vailhauquès : service départemental d’incendie et de secours
Saint-Jean-de-Védas : clinique Saint-Jean
Sète : centre de vaccination, route de Cayenne
Pézenas : hôpital
Agde : hôpital Saint-Loup
Béziers : salle Zinga Zanga
Cessenon : maison de santé (non permanent)
Olonzac : centre de secours des pompiers (non permanent)
Saint-Pons-de-Thomières : centre de secours des pompiers
Clermont-l’Hérault : centre hospitalier
Lodève : maison de santé publique du Lodévois
Gignac : lieu à arrêter
Castelnau-le-Lez : clinique du Parc

Montpellier

CHU
maison médicale de garde de la rue des Tourterelles
centre Bouisson-Bertrand
clinique du Millénaire
centre municipal de vaccination, 2 place Paul-Bec

For more information, click on this link. https://www.midilibre.fr/2021/01/13/coronavirus-le-biterrois-se-prepare-a-la-vaccination-9307903.php

Cancer Support France-Languedoc (CSF-L), Covid-19 response

CSF-L continues to support English speakers touched by cancer in the Hérault and Aveyron, as well as extending support to people touched by Covid-19 during the crisis. In line with guidance, this is done at distance. Our Helpline can be reached on 04 67 44 87 06. (This is a voicemail service and we aim to return calls within 24 hours of a message being left).

If there is information you would like to share with others, please contact us using our email address: feedback.csflanguedoc@gmail.com

We hope you stay safe and well.