Dissatisfaction with the mandatory vaccination of healthcare workers and the expansion of the use of health gaps
More than 150 cities in France are preparing for demonstrations today as part of a nationwide day of protests against the authorities’ new measures against the spread of Covid-19, France Info radio reported.
The dissatisfaction is directed at the bill, adopted last week by the parliament and approved with minor amendments by the Constitutional Council on August 5, which envisages mandatory vaccination of medical workers and expanding the use of health passes, reminds TASS.
The health pass certifies that the holder has been vaccinated, has contracted the virus or has a negative test.
This is the fourth day of mass protests in the summer in France against the tightening of measures. The demonstrations, held on July 31, gathered 204,000 people, and according to the services of the Ministry of Interior, at least 150-200,000 participants are expected to take part in today’s actions.
Largest demonstrations, along with Paris, are expected in Toulon, Lyon, Montpellier and Marseille.
However, the protests could be seriously hampered by the weather conditions, as storms and rains are expected throughout the country today. The bad weather is forecast to cover the entire country, except for the island of Corsica and a small part of the southeastern regions.
The new rules are due to enter into force on Monday, August 9.
The French government “has every reason to be optimistic” about its goal to provide to 50 million people at least one dose of Covid-19 vaccine by the end of August, cabinet spokesman Gabriel Atal said on Friday. He added that more than 4.3 million doses were administered last week, of which 2.5 million were the first doses.
He pointed out that the number of hospitalized people with coronavirus is increasing as a result of the fourth wave of the pandemic with 712 newcomers in the last 24 hours.
The level of vaccination will ensure that the wave will not flood hospitals, but warned that the infection rate remains high without a guarantee of decline, said Gabriel Atal.
–
