France OK's law banning unvaccinated from restaurants, sports arenas as COVID cases surge
President Emmanuel Macron had hoped to push the bill through faster
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France's government on Sunday approved a new law that will ban the unvaccinated from all restaurants, sports arenas, and other venues as COVID cases driven by the highly contagious omicron variant surge across the country.
France's parliament adopted the law by a vote of 215-58 after a slight delay by resistance from lawmakers both on the right and left and hundreds of proposed amendments.
Parliament members attend a session of questions to the Government at the French National Assembly in Paris, Jan. 4, 2022. (AP Photo/Francois Mori, File) (AP Newsroom)
More than 91% of French adults are already fully vaccinated, and some critics have questioned whether the "vaccine pass" will make much of a difference.
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President Emmanuel Macron's administration is hoping the new law will be enough to curb the number of patients filling up strained hospitals nationwide without resorting to a new lockdown. New confinement measures would strike another blow to the economy — and could also cloud Macron’s chances of reelection in the April 10 presidential vote.
A protestor waves a sign which reads 'freedom' in the middle of French flags during a demonstration in Paris, France, Saturday, July 31, 2021. (AP Photo/Michel Euler File) (AP Newsroom)
Up to now, a COVID-19 pass has been required in France to go to restaurants, movie theaters, museums and many sites throughout the country, but unvaccinated people have been allowed in if they show a recent negative test or proof of recent recovery.
Demonstrators march in opposition to vaccine pass and vaccinations to protect against COVID-19 in Paris, France, Saturday, Jan. 8, 2022. (AP Photo/Adrienne Surprenant, File) (AP Newsroom)
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The new law requires full vaccination for such venues, including tourist sites, many trains and all domestic flights, and applies to everyone 16 and over. Some exceptions could be made for those who recently recovered from COVID-19. The law also imposes tougher fines for fake passes and allows ID checks to avoid fraud.
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More than 76% of French ICU beds are occupied by virus patients, most of them unvaccinated, and some 200 people with the virus are dying every day. Like many countries, France is in the grip of the omicron variant, recording more than 2,800 positive cases per 100,000 people over the past week.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.