France’s government spokesman said Thursday that more than 1 million adults got their first COVID-19 vaccine shot over the past month, after the government announced a plan to exclude unvaccinated people from all restaurants, sports arenas and other venues.
The French parliament approved the new law over the weekend and the measure is expected to enter into force in the coming days, after the Constitutional Council releases its assessment on Friday.
The so-called vaccine pass "is a new step in our strategy to encourage (vaccination) and ensure maximum protection. It is already producing its effects," government spokesman Gabriel Attal said.
About 92% of French adults — over 48 million people — are already fully vaccinated, and 94% have received at least one shot.
In addition, the vaccine pass "helped very quickly the (COVID-19) booster campaign," Attal added.
Recommended
"France is now in the European leading group regarding its vaccination campaign," he stressed.
The new law requires full vaccination to enter into restaurants and bars, cinemas, theaters and other leisure and sport facilities, and to take interregional trains and domestic flights. It applies to everyone 16 and over. The government said some exceptions are planned for those who have recently recovered from COVID-19.
Up to now, unvaccinated people have been allowed in if they show a recent negative test.
France this week reported a record number of over 464,000 confirmed cases of infection in a single day, as the spread of the virus in the country is fueled by the highly contagious omicron variant.
On average, over 320,000 cases per day have been recorded over the past week. Yet numbers of new patients admitted into hospitals’ intensive care units decreased by 15% over the same period, letting the government hope that the situation will improve in the coming weeks.
Prime Minister Jean Castex and Health Minister Olivier Veran are to hold a news conference on Thursday evening. They are expected to announce a schedule for lifting restrictions in the country, if the virus situation permits.
Current restrictions include working from home at least three days per week when possible and a maximum number of people limited to 2,000 indoors and 5,000 outdoors during events.
Recommended
___
Follow all AP stories on the pandemic at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic.
- Second US coronavirus vaccine trial which was given funding by Bill Gates launches in Pittsburgh and Kansas City as drug company promises 1 million doses of its shot by year-end
- The Latest: British official talks new virus procedures
- Hunt for coronavirus vaccine raises ethical dilemmas for researchers and drug companies
- New coronavirus vaccine trial underway in the US and funded by the Bill Gates Foundation uses 'skin-deep' shots instead of jabs into the muscle which is typically used
- April 12, 1955 — vaccine vanquishes polio 65 years ago
- View: The ‘Covid-19 vaccine’ buzz should silence the anti-vaccination lobbies
- AP Interview: Sports medicine leader promotes virus protocol
- Hope to get nasal vaccine against Covid-19 into market in 12-18 months: Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech
- Harvard Law Students Want to Skip Bar Exam
- Law enforcement facing onslaught of coronavirus scams that could last for years
- Virus cases top 100,000 in 90 countries as markets take dive
- The Latest: China reports further drop in virus cases
- Coronavirus live updates: Global infection numbers top 2 million
- Coronavirus latest: Number of cases worldwide hits 2 million
- Britain's draconian coronavirus lockdown could be eased when fewer than 50 new cases are recorded each day for a fortnight, top scientist suggests
- Coronavirus live updates: 190 new cases among California health care workers
- Pharmaceutical firm to donate two million tablets of Donald Trump-touted malaria drug to world's largest COVID-19 medication trial
- Coronavirus: Rush for flu vaccine to avoid ‘double dose’ infection
- Coronavirus latest: India's Modi extends lockdown as global cases approach 2 million
- Dr Fauci says we will never get 'back to normal' because coronavirus 'threat' will remain even after vaccines and therapies are approved as the US hits 11,000 COVID-19 deaths ahead of projected peak in 9 days
1 million French get 1st vaccine shot ahead of new virus law have 693 words, post on www.independent.co.uk at January 20, 2022. This is cached page on Law Breaking News. If you want remove this page, please contact us.