Covid: France rolls out health pass as cases soar

A new Covid health pass has come into effect in France amid a surge of new infections.

From Wednesday, people need proof of vaccination, a negative test or recent recovery from Covid to enter most museums and cinemas.

Later lawmakers will debate whether to extend its use in August for entry to cafes, restaurants, and shopping malls.

It comes the day after Health Minister Olivier Véran announced 18,000 new infections in just 24 hours.

This was compared to fewer than 7,000 cases a day last week, a surge of 150%, as the highly contagious Delta variant spreads throughout the country.

"We have never seen this before," he told the National Assembly, saying Delta had led to far larger rises in cases than previous variants, like those first spotted in the UK or South Africa.

President Emmanuel Macron announced the plans for a health pass earlier this month, as well as compulsory vaccination for all health workers by September. Surveys suggest there is widespread vaccine hesitancy in France.

Mr. Macron's plans have proved controversial. Protests against new coronavirus rules in France saw demonstrators vandalizing two vaccination centers this week.

"Health Dictatorship" is what protesters here are calling it.

If the government has its way, in a few short weeks, you won't be able to sit down for a coffee at a Paris café - or board a train - without proof that you're Covid-free, vaccinated, or immune.

This so-called Health Pass is the government's answer to infection rates that are rising faster than France has ever seen in this pandemic.

Already, from today, there'll be no routine access to cinemas, theatres, museums - no trips to Disneyland Paris - without it.

But it's the plan to extend that restriction to everyday public places - cafes, shopping centers, and public transport - that's causing the biggest backlash.

Some MPs have reported receiving death threats ahead of the debate today.

And some protesters sparked fury last week by comparing these government restrictions to the singling out of Jews during France's wartime Nazi occupation.

A majority of French people appear to support the plan, with many believing it's the only way to avoid yet another lockdown.

Source:bbc.com

Comments

Thomas Barrack: Top Trump aide accused of working as foreign agent

Billionaire and long-time Donald Trump ally Thomas J Barrack have been arrested in Los Angeles for allegedly acting as an agent of a foreign government. The 74-year-old investment firm founder served as a key adviser to the former US president's 2016 campaign and was considered a top fundraiser. Mr. Barrack is accused of illegally lobbying on behalf of the United Arab Emirates during and after the campaign. A spokesman for Mr. Barrack said he planned to plead not guilty. He is the latest ex-Trump official to face federal charges. Mr. Barrack is charged with conspiracy, obstruction of justice, and making multiple false statements to the FBI during a 2019 interview. Also charged are Matthew Grimes, 27 - who works for Mr. Barrack - and UAE citizen Rashid Sultan Rashid Al Malik Alshahhi, 43, according to the seven-page indictment . Acting Assistant Attorney General Mark Lesko said the conduct alleged in the indictment was "nothing short of a betrayal" of US officials inclu...

Ejura killings: We’ll be open-minded in our report and recommendations – Justice Koomson

After 12 days of public sitting, the three-member committee that investigated the Ejura disturbances has wrapped up its work. The committee set up by the president follows the killing of two people and the injuring of four others by soldiers during a protest against the killing of a social activist, Ibrahim Muhammed. The deceased, also known as Macho Kaaka, died on Monday, June 28, 2021, after he was attacked by a mob while returning home on his motorbike at Ejura. It is unclear for now the motive for his murder but some have linked it to his social activism role. Chairman of the committee, Justice George Kingsley Koomson told the media the committee was thorough in its work. “In all 22 witnesses appeared before us but three of them because of security reasons provided evidence in camera, also 117 videos, 555 pictures, and three documents were received by the committee as evidence and now we will sit, write our report together with recommendations and present it to the interior m...

Invest your profits back into farming - COCOBOD boss to Cocoa Farmers

Joseph Boahen Aidoo is Chief Executive Officer of COCOBOD The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), Joseph Boahen Aidoo, has charged cocoa farmers to be business minded in operating their farms and to partake fully in the various programmes introduced by COCOBOD to ensure good farm yields and to increase profits. "Good farming practices, like pruning, the timely application of fertilizers and proper pests control are essential at all times," he said. Joseph Boahen Aidoo stated this while interacting with farmers in the Ashanti and Brong Ahafo Regions, on the first day of his week-long tour of cocoa farms across the county. He was accompanied by the Deputy Chief Executive of Operations at COCOBOD, Dr Emmanuel Opoku, as well, as Directors and Research Scientists from COCOBOD. The tour is aimed at assessing the level of farmer participation in the various farm productivity improvement programmes implemented by COCOBOD; it is also...

Odi News Network

Search This Blog