Opponents of France’s virus passes protest for 4th week

Paris - Starting Monday, the pass will be required to access cafes, restaurants, long-distance travel and, in some cases, hospitals.

Thousands of people were expected to march in Paris and other French cities during a fourth consecutive week of protests against Covid-19 entrance requirements and what opponents see as restrictions on personal freedom.

The demonstrations on Saturday come two days after France’s Constitutional Council upheld most provisions of a new law that expands the locations where health passes are needed to enter.

Starting Monday, the pass will be required to access cafes, restaurants, long-distance travel and, in some cases, hospitals. It was already in place for cultural and recreational venues, including cinemas, concert halls and theme parks with capacity for more than 50 people.

A crowd of protesters walked peacefully in the west of Paris on Saturday afternoon while surrounded by police in full riot gear. Three more separate gatherings were planned in the French capital, and dozens of street protests were organized in other French cities.

Some demonstrators are also protesting the government making Covid-19 vaccines mandatory for healthcare workers by September 15.

Polls show that most people in France support the health passes, which are issued to individuals either vaccinated against the coronavirus or who have proof of recovering from Covid-19 or negative results from a recent test.

Denmark pioneered vaccine passes with little resistance. In Austria, the pass is needed to enter into restaurants, theatres, hotels, sports facilities and hairdressers.