Protests erupt in France over strict Covid passport system

• A strict health pass system was implemented in France earlier this week.
• The mandate requires all health care workers to get fully vaccinated by Sept. 15 or get suspended without pay.
• The extreme requirement prompted the French to protest in the streets, with a violent incident prompting police to deploy tear gas.

Earlier this week, French President Emmanuel Macron announced the implementation of a stricter mandate that would require individuals to show proof of vaccination, a recent negative test, or proof of recovery from the virus before entering public places or modes of transportation.

All health care staff in France were also required to complete their vaccination by Sept. 15 or face suspension without pay.

The move was made to help curb the spread of the highly contagious Delta variant that begins to dominate most of the COVID-19 cases around the world.

Reuters reported that the restrictions in France are more extreme than in other European nations. The extremely strict mandate prompted several residents to protest against it.

Protesters argued that the move is a violation of freedom, while others remarked that it is discriminatory toward citizens who refuse to get vaccinated.

A group of demonstrators voiced their protests on Bastille Day. Some flipped trash cans while others set a mechanical digger on fire. The situation prompted police officers to deploy tear gas.

According to the Reuters report, some protesters sported badges that read “No to the health pass.”

The vaccine passport requirement has sparked debate in the U.S. and other countries as well, dividing officials into those who are against it and those who push for its implementation.

The first U.S. state to implement a vaccine passport system was New York with its “Excelsior Pass.”

According to Sortir a Paris, over 27.9 million people (41.6 percent) are fully vaccinated in France. In the U.S., 48.1 percent is fully vaccinated, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Source: The Hill