News Digest: Tune in to Macron’s Speech (and Tomorrow’s FrenchEntrée Webinar!)

With Covid numbers once again rising across Europe, French President Emmanuel Macron is set to make a televised speech tonight at 8pm (French time). The President is expected to lay out new health measures, including the further roll-out of the Covid vaccine booster scheme (which is currently only available to over 65s and those deemed high-risk), as well as the government’s plan to boost the economy in the aftermath of the pandemic.

He may also address matters related to France’s Health Pass. We announced recently that the bill to extend the Health Passhad been approved by Parliament – this gives the government the power to mandate its use through July 31^st 2022. However, it has not yet been announced whether the current rules regarding the Health Pass will remain in place or whether we will see a tightening or relaxing of the rules.

If you’re in France, you can tune into Macron’s speech on TV, and France 24 typically offers a translated version in English.

It’s been a matter of weeks since schools across 40 French departments relaxed rules for mask-wearing in primary school classrooms. But with Covid cases climbing, mask rules have once again been put into place.

It’s not only schools – many departments have also re-introduced mask policies in indoor and some outdoor areas, according to local Covid numbers. It was also announced last week that masks must be worn in ski lift queues and télécabine lifts during France’s ski season.

Wherever you live or travel to in France, be sure to consult local regulations regarding where and when you need to wear your mask.

The final instalment of our three-part Destination France webinars takes place tomorrow (November 10th) at 10 am (UK time), and this time we’re focusing on all the practical aspects of making the move to France.

Our expert panel includes representatives from French Plans, specialists in French planning law, building, design, and renovation; Le Bons Voisins, who can tackle all your questions about owning, maintaining, and securing a second home; and Cranburys Removals, who have all the answers on packing, storage, and removals to France. Plus, I’m pleased to announce that our partners at Tricel will now be joining us too (yes, I know last week we announced that they wouldn’t be able to make it!), and they will be taking us through the different sewage treatment systems available for rural property owners, and their installation and maintenance.

If you want to join me for the webinar tomorrow, you can sign up here, and while you’re at it, why not subscribe to our FrenchEntrée YouTube channel, too? Not only do we offer free streaming of all our past webinars, but we publish weekly Q&A videos with our experts covering a huge range of topics surrounding buying property and moving to France.

While many of us will be paying tribute to Armistice Day with a minute’s silence this Thursday (November 11^th), for those of us in France, it’s also a jour férié. Military parades and remembrance ceremonies will be taking place at Paris’ Tomb of the Unknown Soldier (at the Arc de Triomphe), and around the country.