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Special permits for restaurants and domestic travel, vaccinations for health workers
The French parliament approved a law earlier on Monday that requires all restaurants and domestic travel to require special virus passes and requires all health workers to be vaccinated.
Both measures have triggered protests and political tensions. President Emmanuel Macron and his government stated that as infections rebound, they need to protect vulnerable groups and hospitals and avoid new lockdowns.
The law requires all workers in the health care sector to start vaccinations before September 15 or face the risk of suspension. It also requires a “health pass” to enter all restaurants, trains, planes and some other public places. It initially applies to all adults, but from September 30th it will apply to all people 12 years of age and older.
To obtain a pass, people must prove that they have been fully vaccinated, have recently tested negative or have recently recovered from the virus. Paper or digital documents will be accepted. The law states that a government decree will outline how to deal with vaccination documents from other countries.
The bill was announced only six days ago. Legislators work overnight and weekends to reach a compromise version approved by the Senate on Sunday night and approved by the National Assembly after midnight. Depending on the virus, these rules can be applied until November 15.
Macron called for national unity and mass vaccinations to fight the resurgence of the virus.
About 160,000 people protested across France on Saturday.
Afterwards, Macron visited a hospital in French Polynesia, urged national unity, and stated that the protesters “can express their opinions freely in a calm and respectful manner.” However, he said that the demonstrations will not make the coronavirus disappear.
Organizers of the protests included far-right politicians and extremists of the French Yellow Vest Movement, who took advantage of their anger against the Macron government.
More than 111,000 people in France have died from the virus, and the country is adding about 20,000 new infections every day, compared to only a few thousand cases earlier this month. Concerns about the hospital have resurfaced.
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