[COVID-19] The Emergency Health Act has been published

Information current as of the date of publication of this article

The emergency law No. 2020-290 of March 23, 2020 to deal with the covid-19 epidemic (the “Law”) was published in the Journal Officiel of March 24, 2020.

It came into force immediately, and established a two-month “state of health emergency” in France.

Also published on March 24, 2020 and effective immediately:

• – Decree No. 2020-293 of March 23, 2020 stipulating the general measures necessary to deal with the covid-19 epidemic in the context of a state of health emergency
• – Order of March 23, 2020 stipulating the organizational and operational measures of the health system necessary to deal with the covid-19 epidemic within the framework of the state of health emergency

A number of orders and decrees will be issued in the coming days to allow the implementation of various emergency measures provided for in the Law.

To date, what should be retained from the Law and the Decree and Order published today:

• – Essentially, the Decree and Order published today take up and adapt to the emergency health context as defined by the Law, the measures already implemented under the terms of the following texts:
• – Order of March 14, 2020 on various measures to combat the spread of the COVID-19 virus
• – Decree No. 2020-260 of March 16, 2020 regulating travel as part of the fight against the spread of the COVID-19 virus
• – Decree No. 2020-197 of March 5, 2020 on the selling prices of hydroalcoholic gels
• – Decree No. 2020-247 of March 13, 2020 relating to the requisitions necessary for the fight against the COVID-19 virus
• – Order of March 6, 2020 on various measures to combat the spread of the COVID-19 virus

In order to facilitate your reading and for your information, please find a table of concordance comparing the different texts mentioned above (column 2) with the Decree and Order published today in the Official Journal (column 3). Editorial differences / deletions are indicated in red. Column 3 of our table shows the system currently in force.

Click here to consult the cross-reference table.

This document has been drawn up with the sole aim of making it easier for you to compare the different texts. We remind you that only the texts published in the Official Journal are authentic (see links above).

• * The duration of the following measures has been reduced to April 15, 2020:

• – Possibility for pharmacies to manufacture hydro-alcoholic gels for indoor use in case of disruption of their supply;
• – Possibility for pharmacies to distribute protective masks free of charge from the national stock;
• – Direct renewal in pharmacies of expired renewable prescriptions;
• – Restrictions on the dispensing of paracetamol in pharmacies and online.

• * The ceilings on selling prices for hydro-alcoholic gels are unchanged.
• * Measures restricting travel are strengthened;
• * Farmers’ markets, covered or not covered, are prohibited with limited exceptions.
• * The list of activities authorized to continue to cater to the public remains unchanged.