Proof of full Covid-19 vaccination or negative test mandatory for French clubs

Proof of full Covid-19 vaccination or a negative PCR test is set to become mandatory for clubs in France. 

Following similar changes made in countries including England, where proof of full vaccination against COVID-19 will be required for entry into nightclubs from the end of September, France’s senate has voted to introduce “health passes” for entry into venues such as cinemas and nightclubs with immediate effect.

The changes were announced yesterday (26th) by President Emmanuel Macron, who said that vaccinations were the only way to combat COVID-19 as new variants emerge. It’s estimated that as of yesterday, 40 million people in France have recieved a first vaccination.

Like much of Europe, France has struggled to contain the most recent Covid-19 outbreak, with over 23,000 new COVID-19 cases reported in the country as of Saturday (24th) — double the number of new cases reported in the previous week. 

Speaking about the introduction of vaccine passports in the UK, The Nighttime Industries Association (NTIA) had previously said that vaccine passports for clubs were an “unworkable” option, causing “further anxiety” for venue operators and acting as a “clear subject of cross sector discrimination.”

Back in March, a digital vaccine passport app was made available to New Yorkers in a bid to speed-up the reopening process for business and venues in the state.