The new law on anti-Covid measures, including the health pass, will come into force on August 9, government spokesman Gabriel Attal said on Wednesday July 28 at the end of the Council of Ministers.

"The Constitutional Council indicated that it would render its decision on August 5, the law will therefore be promulgated immediately, with an entry into force that we expect for August 9," said Gabriel Attal.

There will be "at the start, a period of adaptation, tolerance, teaching, support for the actors concerned" by the obligation to present a health pass, he repeated, referring to the "period of one-week running-in period "granted to establishments which already submit to it.

"For those involved in transport, catering, bars and those who will apply the health pass from this date, there will obviously be this time to adapt and break in first," according to Gabriel Attal.

The health pass is already compulsory since July 21 in places of leisure and culture (cinemas, museums ...) which bring together more than 50 people.

It must be extended to coffee shops, fairs and exhibitions, planes, long-distance trains and coaches, as well as to medical establishments.

This certificate - a negative Covid test, a vaccination certificate or a recovery certificate - has been the subject for several weeks of demonstrations by people opposed to this device.

An appeal was lodged at the initiative of the left-wing opposition before the Constitutional Council in the hope of having this measure censored, which was deemed to infringe on freedoms.

The government filed an identical appeal, but on the contrary to have it validated as conforming to fundamental principles of law.

>> To read also: "Health pass, compulsory vaccination, sanctions ... what the bill contains"

State of emergency in Guadeloupe, Saint-Martin and Saint-Barthélémy

The government spokesperson also announced that a state of health emergency will be declared Wednesday at midnight in Guadeloupe, Saint-Martin and Saint-Barthélémy to "take all necessary measures to protect local hospitals that could quickly find themselves under great tension "with the resurgence of cases of Covid-19.

"In Guadeloupe, only 15% of the population is fully vaccinated", while in Saint-Martin and Saint-Barthélemy, "the incidence rate reached 1,714 cases per 100,000 inhabitants", underlined Gabriel Attal.

This exceptional regime makes it possible in particular to limit the movement of people, or even to order local re-containment in the event of overly active circulation of the virus.

The state of health emergency had already been reinstated in Reunion Island and Martinique.

In this department of the West Indies, the government spokesman described a "very difficult situation, where we deployed the army health service to welcome patients in good conditions to the hospital as much as possible".

With AFP

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