France and Italy require proof of Covid-19 status for restaurants and bars

PARIS — Julien Zerbos on Monday turned down potential customers at the Champs-Élysées brasserie in Paris where he works because they did not have the European Union’s new digital health certificate.

France began demanding the passes, which certify someone has been vaccinated against Covid-19, on Monday for people seeking to dine at a restaurant, whether indoors or outdoors. The pass is now also required to take domestic flights and long-distance buses and trains. France already made the pass compulsory last month for a host of other activities such as admission to museums, swimming pools, gymnasiums and major sporting events.

“Some customers say they received the vaccine but did not come with the health pass, and we have to apologize, we cannot accept you,” said Zerbos, who works as a host at Fouquet’s in Paris. “We can be in serious trouble if we accept someone without the health pass.”

French establishments that do not control health cards face a fine of € 1,500, the equivalent of approximately $ 1,763, up to € 9,000 and one year in prison following the third offense within a month.

Italy also made the digital health pass mandatory for a range of activities last Friday, although the unvaccinated can still dine in restaurants if they sit outside.