With 21,000 new infections in the past 24 hours, a “fourth corona wave” has reached France. Prime Minister Jean Castex said on TV channel TF1 on Wednesday that 96 percent of those infected had not been vaccinated. "Vaccinate, vaccinate, vaccinate has to be the answer," he said. The government wants to get the French to get vaccinated with a new health passport. In the next two weeks, five million additional vaccination appointments are to be allocated. Stricter corona rules for cultural and sports facilities came into force on Wednesday. As soon as more than fifty people come together, whether in the cinema, theater, museum or at sporting events, the health passport must be presented in digital or paper form. Proof of complete vaccination,simple vaccination for those who have recovered or a negative corona test result bundled.
Michaela Wiegel
Political correspondent based in Paris.
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Even vacationers have to show it.
From August 1st, the rule will also apply to cafes, restaurants and bars.
The health passport must also be presented for long-distance travel by plane, train and bus.
The announcement by the President of the National Assembly, Richard Ferrand, that he would like to exempt parliament from the health passport requirement caused a stir.
According to the newspaper "L'Opinion", Ferrand argued that the constitution allowed parliament to rule on self-government.
The health pass will therefore not be valid before the Constitutional Council because it restricts the freedom of the members of parliament.
No salary without vaccination
Former Marine Le Pen's deputy, Florian Philippot, was indignant: “Richard Ferrand rejects the health passport for access to the National Assembly. It's only for the mob. ”Fifty MPs tabled an amendment to introduce the health passport in parliament to“ lead by example ”. Ferrand announced in a communiqué that his alleged refusal was a hoax. Should the health passport be passed by parliament, the people's representatives would of course also apply it "with respect for parliamentary freedoms".
The National Assembly wanted to vote on the bill on the health passport on Wednesday evening. Among other things, the draft provides for mandatory vaccination for all employees in hospitals and other care facilities. In the event of non-compliance, employees can have their salaries cut.
The head of government stressed that the health pass should not be used to access schools. For children and adolescents between the ages of 12 and 17, the deadline has been extended to the end of September. From October 1st, French people in this age group must also present a health passport. The change in the law is met with opposition from the extreme right and left. The left presidential candidate Jean-Luc Mélenchon criticized the establishment of a "surveillance society". Marine Le Pen announced that she would vote against the bill in the National Assembly.