COVID risk and mitigation in Paris

In the first few days of October were based in the Marais District for 4 nights before moving onto other areas of France. It was our first foray out of Canada in a couple years so we were ultra diligent about wearing our masks, keeping our distance from others and hand sanitizing or washing for this part of our trip. We were based in a hotel so did take-away exclusively, but the neighbourhood restaurants and terrase were probably 50 to 70 % full. Because we did take-away for this part of our trip, we weren't asked to see our Pass Sanitare, but it was required to be shown inside restaurants and terrase in Loire Valley and Provence through the rest of the month. Mask compliance was virtually 100% on trains and inside venues (chateaux, historical sites), and 95% in village markets throughout Provence. Stores everywhere had hand sanitizer at the entrance.

The Tous Anticovid app has a feature where you enter the post code for an area and it gives some general current Covid stats about that area, which we used occasionally.

*Edited to add * We were double vaxxed several months prio to the trip.

Thank you, Peter, this is very helpful!

Just returned 2 weeks ago from Paris, Bordeaux & Amboise. Ditto on everything from previous poster, esp re: mask compliance on all transportation, restaurants, stores & tourist sites (incl every museum). Covid app was the best/quickest way to prove vaccine status. Was never asked on trains or buses to show QR code. To get the QR code I needed to send pic of CDC vaccine card, travel from airline & passport. To re-enter the U.S., the day before leaving Paris I stopped into a pharmacy and got a PCR test and result - all in about 20-30 minutes.

JeffL - you do not mention where you are from but with France´s nearly 80% vaccination rate, mask wearing very prevalent almost everywhere, and with a rather aggressive campaign to inoculate everyone with the 3rd dose of vaccine, chances are that you are safer in France than you are in your own hometown. There is also discussion about further restrictions on those not yet vaccinated.

ding25 - few if any pharmacies administer PCR tests and if one does, the results take hours, if not more than a full day. Those who need PCR tests, such as those going to Canada, typically make appointments at one of the medical labs. Antigen tests are widely available at pharmacies and even at street testing tents (dark blue with the word dépistage clearly visible) for those returning to the USA for example. Results take minutes. The US requirement is that one obtains an Antigen test within the 3 calendar days preceding US entry.

Mask observance in stores and on public transportation is indeed quite good (near-100% compliance and 90%+ wear it correctly), and vaccination rate is about 90% for the 12+ population in and around Paris (a bit higher than national average). So, no big issues for general sightseeing.

The one riskier place is maybe bars and restaurants: the "Pass Sanitaire" (= negative test or proof of vaccination) is mandatory and nearly always checked, but the venues are as crowded as pre-Covid. So, if you truly want to minimize risk, perhaps opt for self-catered accommodation and come at a season where you can have lunch outside? Most would consider this to be an excessive precaution, but it is just about the best you can do.

Vaccination rate today is 87.5% of all people over 12 in France. However, number of cases have quadrupled in the last two weeks, so whatever people experienced two weeks ago was different.

The good news is that people do remain masked and observe protocol. As stated above, your dangerous areas are crowded bars and pubs, restaurants not as much unless you are somewhere with shared tables like the Polidor. With numbers quadrupling in the last two weeks, I've more careful about where I'll go: classical concert hall where everyone is masked, yes; pub, with everyone crowded together, no.

These are very helpful replies, thank you., @ding25: re "To get the QR code I needed to send pic of CDC vaccine card, travel from airline & passport." where did you send those things?

"@ding25: re "To get the QR code I needed to send pic of CDC vaccine card, travel from airline & passport." where did you send those things?"

This method of getting a QR code is no longer available. You can take your vaccine card to a pharmacy near your hotel and get it converted to a QR code for about 35E, I think. Not sure of the cost. You can just look for the Green Cross symbol to get to your nearest pharmacy.

I was in France for a month in Sept. I come from an area that is still in Covid denial so I was slightly freaked out. I wore an N95 mask everywhere except my hotel room and when I was eating/drinking. I felt more comfortable this way but it was probably not necessary at that time. With the spike in cases Bets mentioned, I would go back to that.

I took enough N95s to carry me thru my whole trip plus have some extras to change on the plane, etc.

I took the Metro in Paris quite a bit and it was crowded to pre-pandemic levels. Mask compliance was good. The worst compliance I noted was Saturday afternoon with young guys out and around who were letting their masks slip to half mast.

I did a few other things to minimize my risk but since they are not official prevention methods the webmaster asked me not to discuss. I'll PM you.

I am in the planning phase for a trip in January. It is my understanding at this time that not all pharmacies offer the conversion of CDC card to Passe Sanitaire. This link has locations of pharmacies (throughout France) that are offering the conversion (and is being updated frequently). https://www.sante.fr/obtenir-un-passe-sanitaire-en-cas-de-vaccination-letranger#p4

The cost is €36. You'll need to present your CDC card and passport.

I spoke yesterday with a friend who was in Paris a few weeks ago and she said that she felt very comfortable overall because of mask compliance as well as the fact that you have to have the health pass in order to enter restaurants etc. --- so, ostensibly, everyone in a place is either vaccinated or has tested negative within the past 72 hours (health passes for unvaccinated only last 72 hours from a negative test).

Pam- can you msg me with that info too? Thx!

Very helpful replies, thank you!