Covid-19 measures: answers to your questions
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
updated January 24, 2022
Since January 24, it has replaced the health pass. It is compulsory for people aged 16 and over in places open to the public.
The "vaccination pass" consists of the presentation of one of these three proofs:
vaccination certification (complete vaccination schedule, booster dose included in the time limit for people from 18 years and 1 month who are eligible);
certificate of reinstatement more than 11 days and less than six months;
certificate of contraindication to vaccination.
A derogation allowing the use a negative test certificate of less than 24 hours as part of the "vaccination pass" will be possible until February 15 for people who have received their first dose of vaccine by then, awaiting their second dose.
Decree No. 2022-51 of January 22, 2022 specifies that the vaccination pass replaces the "sanitary pass" in places open to the public (with the exception of health and social establishments):
bars and restaurants (with the exception of collective catering, the takeaway sale of prepared meals and professional road and rail catering);
leisure activities (cinemas, museums, theatres, sports arenas, sports and performance halls, etc.);
fairs, seminars and trade shows ;
department stores and shopping centers (by decision of the prefect);
interregional transport (planes, trains, buses).
Just like the “sanitary pass”, the “vaccination pass” applies to the public as well as to people who work in places where it is compulsory.
In Gironde, by prefectural decree of November 26, the obligation to wearing a mask has been extended to the busiest outdoor public spaces, in particular in the city center of Bordeaux and Libourne and in the markets, second-hand shops and open unpacking sales.
The obligation to wear a mask outdoors ends on February 1.
All the useful information on the schedule for the reduction of measures on the site https://www.gouvernement.fr/info-coronavirus/pass-sanitaire,
The national protocol to ensure the health and safety of employees in the company response to the Covid-19 epidemic was updated on June 30, 2021. This reference document, drawn up by the Ministry of Labor, constitutes the health standard applicable in companies.
Two guides to support employers and employees in the implementation of the protocol are available on ministry website.
In addition, reinforced protocols concern several sectors such as shops, markets, hotels, cafes and restaurants. Updated at the beginning of January, these protocols present the rules allowing the proper functioning of all restaurants, floating establishments for their catering activity, hotel restaurants, bars and drinking establishments, cabarets, caterers whatever their place of intervention or reception.
Reinforced protocols
For wine properties, it is also possible to consult the guide to good practices published by Vin & Société.
Wine & Society Good Practices Guide
In addition to the national protocol, job descriptions and guides published by professional organizations are benchmarks for good practice.
ADN Tourisme has drawn up two good practice guides. The first is intended for structures adhering to ADN Tourisme and the second, for gîtes and bed and breakfasts. It contains advice and tips to ensure the reception of its customers and the maintenance of its accommodation in complete peace of mind.
In each department, a departmental adviser on emerging from the crisis welcomes and guides companies in a situation of financial fragility.
Post-crisis aid
The common law regime of partial activity (40% remaining for the company) will be applied to all sectors from September 1, 2021.
Companies in sectors S1 and S1bis subject to health restrictions (prohibition of standing consumption, prohibition of consumption in cultural places, etc.) or which experience a loss of turnover of more than 65% continue to benefit from a remainder zero charge.
The long-term partial activity scheme, with a remaining charge of 15% for the company, also remains available to support companies experiencing a lasting reduction in their activity.
The employer has up to 30 days from the day on which the employees were placed in partial activity, to submit your application online, with retroactive effect. State services (Direccte) respond within 15 days. The absence of a response within 15 days constitutes a decision of agreement.
The solidarity fund was set up during the health crisis to support companies in financial difficulty.
It has been replaced by the fixed costs system since October 1, 2021 (see chapter 9)
https://www.economie.gouv.fr/cedef/aides-aux-entreprises-fonds-de-solidarite
Since the 1er August 2021, new requests for exemptions and assistance with the payment of social contributions relating to the months after August 2020 are no longer subject to the ceiling of 1,8 million euros. The terms of this relaxation will be specified in the coming days.
What are the new provisions?
The loan is open to all companies until June 30, 2022 anywhere in the territory, regardless of their size and legal form (SME, ETI, farmers, craftsmen, traders, liberal professions, innovative company, micro-entrepreneur, association, foundation, etc.).
The amortization of the loan guaranteed by the State may be spread out between 1 and 5 additional years, with rates for SMEs negotiated with French banks of between 1 and 2,5%, including the State guarantee. It will be possible to arrange the amortization with a 1st period of one year, where only the interest and the cost of the State guarantee will be paid, remaining within the total duration fixed (i.e. "1+1+4" , with 1 year lag in capital repayment and 4 years of amortization).
Companies can contact Credit Mediation to request either a spreading of the PGE from 6 to 10 years or a shift in the date of the start of repayment by 6 months.
VSEs in a situation of serious cash flow stress can benefit from an extension of the repayment periods for their PGE from 6 to 10 years. This system has been extended, since the Government's announcements of January 19, to all employer associations that have subscribed to a PGE.
The company approaches a banking partner to apply for a loan. After examining the company's situation (eligibility criteria in particular), the bank gives a pre-approval for a loan. The company connects to the platform attestation-pge.bpifrance.fr to obtain a unique identifier which she communicates to her bank. For this purpose, the company provides its SIREN, the amount of the loan and the name of the bank branch. During the first month of the system, the company will only be able to obtain a single unique number, so it only asks for it after obtaining a pre-agreement from the bank. Upon confirmation of the unique number by Bpifrance, the bank grants the loan.
The State will be able to grant direct loans if some companies do not find any financing solution:
– these State loans can reach up to €10 for companies with fewer than 000 employees, €10 for companies with 50 to 000 employees,
– for companies with more than 50 employees, the State may grant reimbursable advances capped at 3 months of turnover.
The finance bill for 2021 introduces a tax credit to encourage landlords to cancel part of their rent. This measure will benefit companies with fewer than 250 employees that are administratively closed or that belong to the hotel, café and restaurant sectors. The system, which primarily concerns rents for the month of November 2020, for rent waivers granted until December 31, 2021, results in:
– for business lessors with less than 250 employees, by a tax credit of 50% of the amounts given up.
– for business lessors with 250 to 5 employees, by a tax credit of 000% of the sums given up, within the limit of two thirds of the amount of the rent.
The fixed costs system concerns all companies in sectors whose activity remains penalized by health restrictions (sectors S1 and S1bis). For the months of December 2021 and January 2022, these companies will be able to benefit from the “fixed costs” system when they lose more than 50% of their turnover compared to the same months in 2019.
This assistance covers:
70% of operating losses for companies with more than 50 employees,
90% of operating losses for companies with fewer than 50 employees, up to a limit of 1,8 million euros for the year 2021.
Regarding nightclubs, whose closure has been extended, they will benefit from the “fixed costs” system with 100% coverage of operating losses (negative EBITDA) for the months of December and January.
The request must be submitted on the professional space of the company on the site impots.gouv.fr.
Set up by the decree n°2021-943 of July 16, 2021, a "new company" aid, complementary to the Solidarity Fund, is aimed at companies with fixed costs not covered by revenue contributions but not eligible for the "fixed costs" aid of Decree No. 2021-310 of the March 24, 2021 due to a creation date after January 1, 2019. This aid covers up to 90% of operating losses. The request for assistance must be submitted electronically from August 16, 2021 and until September 30 (inclusive) in the "professional" area of the site. impots.gouv.fr.
More information here.
A digital check for €500 is offered to businesses with fewer than eleven employees that are administratively closed and to professionals in the hotel and restaurant sector, in order to finance the acquisition of digital distance selling solutions.
This financial aid is granted on presentation of invoices to the service and payment agency, up to a limit of €500.
A reduction of the CFE has been decided in certain municipalities or EPCIs: article 11 of law n° 2020-935 of July 30, 2020 on amending finances for 2020
List of municipalities
List of EPCIs
Companies are supported in the energy transition through a Sustainable Tourism Fund oriented towards tourist accommodation and the hotel and restaurant sector.
Sustainable Tourism Fund
Your activity is impacted by the health crisis and you are wondering what aid you are eligible for or how to find out?
A phone number 0806 000 245 is set up to inform professionals. It is accessible Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and from 13 p.m. to 16 p.m.
To meet the support needs of companies, Bordeaux Gironde CCI reactivates and strengthens its support unit available on 05 56 79 5000 or contact@bordeauxgironde.cci.fr
Resource FAQs :
- the FAQ “Questions and answers on the Coronavirus Covid-19” on the Government website
- the FAQ on DGFiP support measures
- the FAQ on URSSAF support measures
- the FAQ “Questions and answers for companies and employees” on the website of the Ministry of Labor
- the DGCCRF FAQ relating to the health pass control system
- DNA Tourism's FAQ
And for economic support measures, the website of the Ministry of Economy, Finance and Recovery : https://www.economie.gouv.fr/covid19-soutien-entreprises/les-mesures
https://www.economie.gouv.fr/covid19-soutien-entreprises/crise-sanitaire-mesures-soutien-entreprises-impactees-reprise-epidemique