PARIS: A mandatory health pass for access to cultural and leisure venues will come into force in France on July 21, certifying that the bearer has either been fully vaccinated or had a recent, negative PCR test. FRANCE 24 takes a look at the European countries that have applied similar policies. From Wednesday, people will require proof of vaccination, a negative test or recent recovery from Covid-19 to enter most museums and cinemas, the BBC reported.

"The health pass will never be a right of access that discriminates among the French. It cannot be made madatory for access to everyday places," French President Emmanuel Macron pledged in April during an interview with the regional press. Macron's plans have proved controversial. Protests against new coronavirus rules in France saw demonstrators vandalising two vaccination centres this week.

This was compared to fewer than 7,000 cases a day last week, a surge of 150 per cent, as the highly contagious Delta variant spreads throughout the country. "We have never seen this before," he told the National Assembly, saying Delta had led to far larger rises in cases than previous variants, like those first spotted in the UK or South Africa.

President Emmanuel Macron announced the plans for a health pass earlier this month, as well as compulsory vaccination for all health workers by September. Surveys suggest there is widespread vaccine hesitancy in France.

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