Paris (AFP)

Some 185 demonstrations are again planned for Saturday in France against the health pass put in place by the government to counter the Covid-19 epidemic, the eleventh act of a weekly mobilization, in decline for several weeks.

Between 60,000 and 80,000 demonstrators against the health pass are expected Saturday throughout France, we learned from a police source.

According to the Interior Ministry, they were 80,000 demonstrators across the country last weekend, including 6,100 in Paris, far from the 237,000 participants of August 7.

Four processions are planned in the capital, as last week and the police expect an equivalent mobilization (about 6,000 people).

From 12 noon in the capital, "yellow vests" will start from the Gare de Lyon to go to the Sacré Coeur.

At 2:00 p.m., the demonstration of the Patriots, led by Florian Philippot (ex-number 2 of the National Front), will move from the Place de Barcelona (XVIth arrondissement) towards the Place Vauban (VIIe arrondissement).

The last two parades announced should be much smaller.

Florian Philippot (c) during a demonstration by the Patriots against the health pass and the vaccination obligation for certain professions, September 11, 2021 in Paris Thomas SAMSON AFP / Archives

The police fear possible "tensions" in Marseille, Metz and Nancy.

On September 11, clashes broke out in the capital between demonstrators and the police in the morning and then at the end of the day around the Palais-Royal, giving rise to 104 arrests.

But on September 18, the parades had been quiet and the authorities had only reported 12 arrests nationwide.

A bill to extend the health pass beyond November 15 will be presented on October 13 in the Council of Ministers.

The health pass became compulsory on July 21 in places accommodating more than 50 people.

It was then extended to hospitals except emergencies, bars and restaurants, large shopping centers by prefectural decision and on August 30 to 1.8 million employees in contact with the public.

On September 30, it should be applied to 12-17 year olds.

This new day of mobilization comes as more than 50 million French people have received at least one injection of the vaccine and the decline in Covid-19 patients continues in France: Friday 8,107 people were hospitalized against more than 9,000 a week earlier.

Of these patients, 1,586 were in intensive care.

Coronavirus: the situation in France Simon MALFATTO AFP

The government announced on Wednesday the lifting from October 4 of the obligation to wear a mask in primary school in the departments least affected by the Covid-19 epidemic.

© 2021 AFP