France to extend Covid health pass until summer 2022

30 Sep 2021

France is contemplating the extension of the Covid health pass until next summer according to a government spokesperson.
 
Following a cabinet meeting, Gabriel Attal announced the government is looking at the introduction of a bill that would maintain the use of the health pass until summer 2022. The bill will be presented to ministers on 13th October.
 
The health pass – which confirms the holder has been fully vaccinated, tested negative recently or recovered from coronavirus in the last few months – is required to enter bars and restaurants as well as use long-distance public transport across the country.
 
The bill was approved by lawmakers at the end of July, but an extension past 15th November would require further approval.

Attal stated: "We must give ourselves the means to have the possibility of resorting to measures, if necessary, to protect the French. Our wish, our hope is that this will not be the case."

The government spokesperson went on to add that the possibility of maintaining the use of the health pass until next summer would see it "bypass the presidential election deadline" allowing the government to quickly respond to "an epidemic rebound.”

Voters in France will head to the polls in early April for the first round, with the second round a fortnight later.

Attal continued: "Our wish is always to have the least constraints for the French. The issue for us is not to say that we are going to prolong constraints indefinitely and we obviously have reasons to be optimistic thanks to vaccination.

"But the 18 months that have passed have shown us that we must always remain cautious and vigilant," he added.

The use of the health pass is to be extended to children aged 12 to 17 as from Thursday.

Since the pass was launched, protests have been held each week throughout France, with over 60,000 people demonstrating on Saturday.