French President Emmanuel Macron recently announced that a Covid passport would be required in order to enter restaurants and theaters.
Macron also announced a new mandatory vaccine mandate for all healthcare workers.
Tourists visiting France will have to show proof of vaccination or a negative Covid test via a digital passport.
Macron’s ‘big stick’ approach to forcing vaccination includes threats of heavy fines and prison time for both business owners and patrons who don’t comply with his covid passport mandate.
The Guardian reported:
Macron announced that from 21 July, anyone visiting a theatre, cinema, sports venue or festival with an audience of more than 50 people would need a health pass proving they were either fully vaccinated, had tested negative or were immune.
The same requirement will be extended to bars, cafes, restaurants, shopping centres (though not supermarkets), hospitals, long-distance trains, coaches and planes from 1 August, he said – including for children aged between 12 and 17 from 1 September.
People unable to present a valid health pass risk up to six months in prison and a fine of up to €10,000 (£8,500), according to the draft text of the law, while owners of “establishments welcoming the public” who fail to check patrons’ passes could go to jail for a year and be hit with a €45,000 fine.
Meanwhile, non-essential free coronavirus testing will also end in September, “to further encourage vaccination”, and healthcare professionals and retirement home workers who have not been vaccinated by 15 September will be suspended for a month to allow them to do so. Thereafter, they risk dismissal.
According to reports, 66% of French have received at least one dose of the vaccine and 53% are fully vaccinated.
Thousands of protesters hit the streets in Paris this weekend protesting against the new vaccine mandates imposed by Macron.