Paris (AFP)

The mobilization against the extension of the health pass and compulsory vaccination for certain professions should not weaken on Saturday in France, after having gathered 161,000 people last week and 110,000 a week earlier.

More than 150,000 demonstrators are expected in France, according to the authorities.

Among the French who support these demonstrations, 65% justify their support by "the impression of being imposed on what they must do, of not having a choice".

According to another Ipsos-Sopra Steria poll for franceinfo and Le Parisien on July 16, 62% of French people said they were in favor of setting up the health pass to enter public places and 69% of compulsory vaccination for caregivers.

In Paris, four events are planned, two of which could be particularly attended.

One of them will leave from the Villiers metro station (17th century) towards Place de la Bastille (11th century).

Another will start at 2:30 p.m. near the Montparnasse station (VIe) for a parade in the direction of the Ministry of Health (VIIe), at the call of the ex n.2 of the FN and president of the Patriots Florian Philippot.

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A rally is also scheduled at 11am in front of the BFM TV channel.

The president of the pro-Frexit UPR (Popular Republican Union) party François Asselineau for his part announced Friday to be positive for Covid-19, and therefore prevented from demonstrating against the health pass, which he considers "absurd, unfair and totally liberticidal" .

- #PassDeLaHonte -

More than 3,000 police and gendarmes will be mobilized to supervise the demonstrators and secure sensitive places, a week after demonstrators were repulsed from the Champs-Elysées.

Events are also planned in more than 150 cities in France, with an attendance which should be particularly important in Toulon, Montpellier, Bordeaux, Marseille, Nice, Metz, Nantes and Pau.

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Grouped around the hashtags # manif31juillet and #PassDeLaHonte on social networks, the opposition to government measures to fight Covid-19 brings together anti-health, anti-vaccine or anti-containment protesters, with protean demands.

In the processions, where there are also many "yellow vests", the demonstrators castigate a "liberticidal" health pass and claim to march "against the dictatorship".

The health pass was adopted definitively on Sunday evening, after six days of heated debates in the National Assembly and the Senate.

Already applied in cultural and leisure venues since July 21, its extension to cafes, fairs, exhibitions, restaurants and trains is scheduled for August 9.

In the meantime, the Constitutional Council will render its decision on the law on August 5.

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- Confinement in the West Indies -

New containments are put in place this weekend in Martinique and Reunion, two territories where vaccination coverage is low and the incidence rate is increasing sharply.

In Martinique, it fell in one week from 280 cases to 995 per 100,000 inhabitants.

In mainland France, the epidemic is on the rise, particularly in tourist departments and health measures have been introduced at the departmental level, as in Savoie where the prefect announced on Friday the return of the obligation to wear a mask outdoors in areas with "strong associations".

People not vaccinated against Covid-19 represent about 85% of patients hospitalized in France, including in intensive care, and 78% of deaths due to the virus, according to a study published Friday, which reconciles the vaccination status and hospital admissions.

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Published for the first time, this study carried out by DREES, the statistical service of social ministries, combines data on the results of Covid-19 tests, anti-Covid-19 vaccinations and conventional hospitalizations or in critical care (resuscitation, intensive and continuing care) for this disease.

France exceeded the threshold of 50% of its fully vaccinated population on Tuesday evening, a level however still far from the collective immunity threshold estimated at around 90% with the new Delta variant.

© 2021 AFP