France: protests against the health pass for covid vaccines | More than 230,000 people took to the streets

More than 230,000 people took to the streets in different cities in France to protest against health measures to control the spread of covid-19, like the compulsory vaccination for health personnel and the health card (vaccination certificate or negative coronavirus test) to enter cafes, restaurants and long distance travel by bus, train or plane.

The steps were called in more than 150 cities in France and in total they participated about 237 thousand people. The total number exceeds 204,000 people who took to the streets last week. In Paris some have mobilized 17,000 demonstrators, as reported by the Ministry of the Interior. In the department of Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, on the Mediterranean coast, at least 37,000 people demonstrated in cities like Toulon, Nice or Marseille. Most of the marches were peaceful, but in Lyon, seven people were arrested for throwing projectiles. The Interior Ministry reported 35 detainees and seven officers with minor injuries.

“Macron, I don’t want your (sanitary) pass” and “Macron, we don’t even want to see you” were some of the slogans in central Paris, in a demonstration featuring “yellow vests “among the participants. “The problem with the health pass is that it is imposed on us,” lamented Alexandre Fourez, a 34-year-old marketing employee.

The marches return two days after the entry into force of most of the measures. This Thursday, the Constitutional Court supported the extension of the health pass to more public spaces and the obligation to vaccinate health personnel.

From next Monday, it will take present a vaccination certificate, a negative PCR test or a certificate of recovery from the disease to be able to access the cafes and restaurants, showrooms and trade fairs. Employees of schools and universities, as well as university students, must also have this certificate which, from September 1, will be required for domestic flights and long-distance trains.

The measures promoted by Macron aim to accelerate the vaccination campaign which so far reaches 44 million French people with at least one dose (about 66% of the population) and as a way to pressure people reluctant to get vaccinated against covid-19. According to health authorities, the country is already registering more than 120,000 dead since the start of the pandemic. In the past 24 hours, there have been 32 deaths and over 25,000 infections. According to the Covid Tracker site, France is currently recording an average of 146 daily entries into the Intensive Units of the City.