Paris: France will from August 9 enforce new legislation that will make a health pass compulsory to visit a cafe, board a plane or travel on an inter-city train, the government’s spokesman said Wednesday.
The legislation passed by parliament at the weekend has sparked mass protests in France but the government is determined to press ahead and make the health pass a key part of the fight against COVID-19.
A valid health pass is generated by two jabs from a recognised vaccine, a negative coronavirus test or a recent recovery from infection. The legislation also makes vaccination compulsory for health workers and carers.
The pass has already been obligatory from Jul 21 for visits to museums, cinemas and cultural venues with a capacity of more than 50 people. Government spokesman Gabriel Attal said it would also be obligatory in cafes, restaurants, flights and intercity trains from Aug 9.
Attal’s announcement came as data showed 50 per cent of France’s adult population were now vaccinated with two jabs. The government’s health pass strategy makes vaccination its number-one weapon in the fight against COVID-19.
Attal stressed that there would be a degree of tolerance in the initial phase from Aug 9. Transport minister Jean-Baptiste Djebbari said authorities wanted to have “a good level of control without making the lives of travellers difficult”.
Ahead of the return to school after the summer holidays, Education Minister Jean-Michel Blanquer said secondary school and college students would only be pulled from classes when fellow pupils tested positive if they themselves had not been vaccinated.