https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from France in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed The French government is to launch a Spring Covid vaccination campaign to protect more vulnerable people. https://www.thelocal.fr/20260415/covid-19-spring-vaccination-renewal-for-high-risk-people-in-france Wed, 15 Apr 2026 15:50:07 +0200 covid-19-spring-vaccination-renewal-for-high-risk-people-in-france It was a global catastrophe in which millions died while others lived under the most stringent civilian restrictions since World War II - five years on from the first lockdown, what permanent changes did the pandemic make to France? https://www.thelocal.fr/20220317/9-ways-that-two-years-of-covid-have-changed-france Thu, 17 Mar 2022 09:32:24 +0100 9-ways-that-two-years-of-covid-have-changed-france Police and gendarmes in France recorded nearly 2.7 million offences relating to tough Covid-19 laws during the country’s two-year State of Emergency, according to newly released official figures. https://www.thelocal.fr/20241122/2-7m-covid-crimes-recorded-during-frances-2-year-state-of-emergency Fri, 22 Nov 2024 13:23:10 +0100 2-7m-covid-crimes-recorded-during-frances-2-year-state-of-emergency Facemasks are again compulsory in hospitals in Paris and the surrounding Île-de-France region, the university hospital trust operating in the capital has announced. https://www.thelocal.fr/20241113/paris-hospitals-reintroduce-facemask-rules Wed, 13 Nov 2024 16:56:11 +0100 paris-hospitals-reintroduce-facemask-rules France's Covid-tracker app, used for months for the all-important 'health pass' will be switched off today, health officials have confirmed. https://www.thelocal.fr/20230630/frances-covid-19-app-to-be-put-to-sleep Fri, 30 Jun 2023 15:29:50 +0200 frances-covid-19-app-to-be-put-to-sleep The World Health Organization's European office warned on Tuesday the risk of Covid-19 has not gone away, saying it was still responsible for nearly 1,000 deaths a week in the region. And the real figure may be much higher. https://www.thelocal.fr/20230627/covid-19-still-causing-1000-deaths-a-week-in-europe-who-warns Tue, 27 Jun 2023 15:27:54 +0200 covid-19-still-causing-1000-deaths-a-week-in-europe-who-warns This year's Tour de France will see the reintroduction of an anti-Covid protocol, including the wearing of masks and social distancing, sources said Sunday. https://www.thelocal.fr/20230604/anti-covid-protocol-to-be-reintroduced-for-tour-de-france-sources Sun, 04 Jun 2023 18:01:03 +0200 anti-covid-protocol-to-be-reintroduced-for-tour-de-france-sources French medical bodies on Sunday called on authorities to punish researcher Didier Raoult for "the largest 'unauthorised' clinical trial ever seen" into the use of hydroxychloroquine to treat Covid-19. https://www.thelocal.fr/20230528/medical-row-in-france-over-unauthorised-covid-trial Sun, 28 May 2023 19:11:19 +0200 medical-row-in-france-over-unauthorised-covid-trial France's health regulator has called for an autumn Covid-19 vaccination campaign for at-risk groups, putting the Covid vaccine on a similar footing the the flu shot, which is administered annually to certain groups. https://www.thelocal.fr/20230224/french-health-authority-recommends-autumn-covid-vaccine-campaign Fri, 24 Feb 2023 15:57:42 +0100 french-health-authority-recommends-autumn-covid-vaccine-campaign France's public health body outlined how Covid-19 rules changed starting on February 1st, including an end to compulsory self-isolation after a positive test result. https://www.thelocal.fr/20230130/france-scraps-compulsory-self-isolation-after-positive-covid-test Mon, 30 Jan 2023 13:37:55 +0100 france-scraps-compulsory-self-isolation-after-positive-covid-test French President Emmanuel Macron has asked his government to take "protective measures" as China sees an explosion of Covid-19 cases. The EU was also set to meet on Thursday to discuss measures. https://www.thelocal.fr/20221229/macron-demands-france-take-protective-measures-against-covid-rise-in-china Thu, 29 Dec 2022 10:27:25 +0100 macron-demands-france-take-protective-measures-against-covid-rise-in-china The French online platform Ameli is a gateway to access information and crucial health documents. https://www.thelocal.fr/20210506/ameli-how-to-create-your-online-french-social-security-account Thu, 06 May 2021 19:23:19 +0200 ameli-how-to-create-your-online-french-social-security-account The French health minister outlined on Friday the government recommendations amid the "tripledemic" of Covid-19, influenza, and bronchiolitis that has hit the country in recent weeks. https://www.thelocal.fr/20221209/paxlovid-and-vaccines-the-latest-covid-advice-from-the-french-government Fri, 09 Dec 2022 20:17:50 +0100 paxlovid-and-vaccines-the-latest-covid-advice-from-the-french-government France’s Health Minister François Braun announced on Friday that booster doses of Covid-19 vaccine would available to all groups in France. https://www.thelocal.fr/20221209/covid-19-everyone-can-be-vaccinated-says-frances-health-minister Fri, 09 Dec 2022 14:00:46 +0100 covid-19-everyone-can-be-vaccinated-says-frances-health-minister After France made second booster doses available to all groups, some wondering whether they could qualify for a third booster, using the new dual-strain vaccines. https://www.thelocal.fr/20221004/reader-question-can-i-get-a-third-covid-booster-shot-in-france Tue, 04 Oct 2022 13:09:51 +0200 reader-question-can-i-get-a-third-covid-booster-shot-in-france From Monday the new dual-strain Covid vaccines are available in France, with those in high risk groups urged to get a second booster shot. https://www.thelocal.fr/20220824/reader-question-when-will-the-new-dual-strain-covid-vaccines-be-available-in-france Wed, 24 Aug 2022 18:37:17 +0200 reader-question-when-will-the-new-dual-strain-covid-vaccines-be-available-in-france Experts have warned of a particularly bad flu epidemic this winter in France due to a combination of lowered immune systems and 'vaccine apathy' - urging high-risk groups to get their shot as soon as the flu vaccination campaign begins in October. https://www.thelocal.fr/20220928/experts-warn-of-high-levels-of-flu-in-france-this-winter Wed, 28 Sep 2022 13:37:12 +0200 experts-warn-of-high-levels-of-flu-in-france-this-winter A criminal investigation is set to begin into the Marseille research unit headed by controversial scientist Didier Raoult, after a report found "serious malfunctions". https://www.thelocal.fr/20220907/serious-malfunctions-at-french-research-unit-headed-by-didier-raoult Wed, 07 Sep 2022 13:55:45 +0200 serious-malfunctions-at-french-research-unit-headed-by-didier-raoult The head of the government's new health advisory body says that a surge of Covid cases when the French head back to work after the summer break is virtually certain. https://www.thelocal.fr/20220817/new-covid-wave-in-autumn-virtually-certain-say-french-experts Wed, 17 Aug 2022 16:18:01 +0200 new-covid-wave-in-autumn-virtually-certain-say-french-experts The French parliament has passed the controversial health bill which updates France's emergency provisions for Covid - and allows the return of negative Covid tests for all travellers at the border, if the health situation requires. https://www.thelocal.fr/20220726/french-government-votes-to-allow-return-of-covid-tests-at-border Tue, 26 Jul 2022 11:56:25 +0200 french-government-votes-to-allow-return-of-covid-tests-at-border